Abstract
In the 2-year Atorvastatin versus Simvastatin on Atherosclerosis Progression extension study, patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who continued to take atorvastatin 80 mg for an additional 2 years had complete arrest of the progression of mean carotid intima-media thickness (0.89 mm at the start vs 0.90 mm at the end of the study, p = 0.58). In contrast, patients previously taking simvastatin 40 mg had significant regression of intima-media thickness (0.95 mm at the start vs 0.92 mm at the end of the study, p = 0.01). Therefore, both placebo- and statin-treated patients with familial hypercholesterolemia are best treated with high-dose atorvastatin, a therapeutic regimen that induces atherosclerosis regression and is safe and well tolerated over a 4-year period.
Publication types
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Evaluation Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Atorvastatin
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Cholesterol / blood
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Cholesterol, HDL / blood
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Cholesterol, LDL / blood
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Coronary Artery Disease / blood
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Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy
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Coronary Artery Disease / pathology
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Female
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Heptanoic Acids / administration & dosage*
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Humans
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Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
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Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / blood
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Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / drug therapy*
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Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / pathology
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Longitudinal Studies
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Pyrroles / administration & dosage*
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Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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Treatment Outcome
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Triglycerides / blood
Substances
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Cholesterol, HDL
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Cholesterol, LDL
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Heptanoic Acids
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Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
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Pyrroles
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Triglycerides
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Cholesterol
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Atorvastatin