Dose-dependent effect of rosuvastatin treatment on HDL-subfraction phenotype in patients with primary hyperlipidemia.

Author(s): Kostapanos MS, Milionis HJ, Filippatos TD, Christogiannis LG, Bairaktari ET, Tselepis AD, Elisaf MS

Affiliation(s): Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.

Publication date & source: 2009-03, J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther., 14(1):5-13.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

Although the raising effect of rosuvastatin on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is well-established, there is a paucity of data regarding the effect of this statin on the high-density lipoprotein subfraction phenotype. A total of 150 participants without evidence of cardiovascular disease were randomized to therapeutic lifestyle modification (nonstatin-treated group) or to therapeutic lifestyle modification plus rosuvastatin at 10 mg/d (RSV10 group) or 20 mg/d (RSV20 group). We assessed the effect of rosuvastatin on the cholesterol mass of high-density lipoprotein subfractions at baseline as well as after 12 weeks post-treatment. Rosuvastatin treatment dose-dependently increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.4% vs 5.3% in the RSV10 and RSV20 groups, respectively, P = .02). A dose-related rosuvastatin-induced increase in the cholesterol concentration of large high-density lipoprotein particles was also noted (by 11.4% in RSV10 group vs 22.0% in the RSV20 group, P = .01). Rosuvastatin treatment increases the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by increasing the cholesterol mass only of the larger high-density lipoprotein particles in a dose-dependent manner.