Treatment Options for Hypercholesterolemia and Combined Dyslipidemia: Focus on Pitavastatin

The progression of atherosclerosis and thus risk of cardiovascular disease is influenced by a variety of risk factors, including high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Lowering the serum cholesterol level with diet or drug therapy slows the progression of angiographically documented coronary atherosclerosis in patients with arterial bypass grafts. Statins, inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, are the most potent pharmacologic agents for lowering total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C. We conducted a review analyzing clinical efficacy and safety of pitavastatin, the latest statin to be commercialized, including the most important studies about pitavastatin published in the last ten years. Pitavastatin proved to be as effective as atorvastatin, and a little inferior to rosuvastatin in improving lipid profile, it also proved to be safe and well tolerated. Because of its positive pleiotropic effects on coronary plaque volume and fibro-fatty composition, pitavastatin could be a valid option for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and combined dyslipidemia.