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[Effect of fluvastatin on serum lipid levels in essential hypertension]
Insights
Fluvastatin effectively lowers high cholesterol in hypertensive patients. This HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor demonstrated good tolerability and significant reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-C.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- Management of dyslipidemia in hypertensive patients requires careful consideration of drug efficacy and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in treating hypercholesterolemia in patients with hypertension.
- To assess the impact of fluvastatin on lipid profiles and blood pressure in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, open-label clinical trial involving 49 hypertensive patients (WHO I-II).
- Patients underwent an 8-week low-lipid diet, followed by fluvastatin treatment (20-40 mg/day) if LDL-C remained elevated.
- Lipid profiles (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG), ApoA1, ApoB, and blood pressure were monitored over 12 weeks.
Main Results:
- Fluvastatin significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and ApoB levels in patients who completed the study.
- No significant changes were observed in HDL-C, ApoA1, or triglyceride levels.
- A significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was noted after fluvastatin initiation, while diastolic pressure decreased during the diet phase.
Conclusions:
- Fluvastatin is an effective and well-tolerated medication for managing hypercholesterolemia in hypertensive individuals.
- The drug demonstrates a favorable safety profile with only minor side effects reported.
Abstract:
The efficacy and safety of the HMG-CoA reductase fluvastatin was investigated in a multicenter, open label clinical therapeutic trial in the treatment of hypercholesterinaemia in hypertensive patients (WHO I-II.). 49 patients were involved, 6 patients were dropped out because of th lack of compliance, 43 patients were investigated (mean age: 57.6 +/- 9.4 years, mean blood pressure: 146 +/- 16/88+/- g mmHg (systolic/diastolic). The antihypertensive treatment was unchanged during the study. An 8 weeks low-lipid diet was started if the fasting total cholesterol (TC) level was equal or higher than 6.5 mM/L and the triglyceride level was lower than 4.6 mM/L. After the dietary period fluvastatin treatment was started (20 mg o.d.), if the level of LDL-C was higher than 4,1 mM/L. Blood pressure, heart rate, TC, HDL-C (HDL2-C, HDL3-C), apoA1, apoB, TG were measured at the 4th, 8th, 12th weeks of treatment. LDL-C was calculated with Fridewald equation. The daily dose of fluvastatin was increased to 40 mg, if LDL-C level was higher than 3.5 mM/L after 4 weeks of treatment. 36 patients completed the study (Group B). 7 patients were dropped out at the end of the dietary period, because of the significant decrease of TC and LDL-C levels (Group A). In Group B fluvastatin significantly reduced the level of TC (from 7.22 +/- 0.88 to 5.99 +/- 0.98 mM/L), of LDL-C (from 5.13 +/- 0.71 to 3.95 +/- 0.88 mM/L), and the level of ApoB (from 0.97 +/- 0.26 to 0.85 +/- 0.15 mM/L), but did not influence significantly the level of HDL-C, ApoA1 and TG. The diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly during the dietary period, while after beginning the fluvastatin treatment the decrease of the systolic blood pressure became significant. There was no change in the heart rate. Only minor side effects were observed in 3 patients (dysuria, constipation, lack of appetite). Fluvastatin proved to be an effective and well-tolerated drug in the treatment of hypercholesterinaemia in hypertensive patients.