Effective Analysis of Atorvastatin versus in Simvastatin Patients with Hyperlipidemia

We directly evaluate the safety and dose efficacy of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor atorvastatin (X-tor) and simvastatin (Zocor) in hypercholesterolemic patients. Fifty hyperlipidemia patients between the ages of 20 and 75 years with baseline of low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (>160 mg/dl) and triglycerides (>400 mg/dl) received once-daily dosing with atorvastatin 10, 20 mg or simvastatin 10, 20 mg. The efficacy end points were mean percent change in plasma LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations from baseline to the end of treatment (week 8). Atorvastatin 10, 20 mg caused significantly greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, respectively, than the milligram equivalent doses of simvastatin. On the other hand Atorvastatin 10 mg caused triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were not different between atorvastatin and the other reductase inhibitors except at the 20mg dose when atorvastatin produced significant changes in triglycerides and HDL cholesterol than simvastatin. No patient in either treatment group had clinically important elevations in creatine phosphokinase (CPK), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransaminase (AST). No serious adverse events were considered associated with treatment. In summary, there is a need for more effective total cholesterol and LDL lowering agents to improve treatment aimed at reducing risk of coronary heart diseases (CHD). In this trial, atorvastatin was more effective than simvastatin. Atorvastatin should constitute an important therapeutic option for patients with hyperlipidemia.