Focus on Pitavastatin

Authors

  • Angelo Michele Carella Internal Medicine Department, "T. Masselli-Mascia" Hospital
  • Teresa Marinelli Internal Medicine Department, "T. Masselli-Mascia" Hospital
  • Armando Melfitano Internal Medicine Department, "T. Masselli-Mascia" Hospital
  • Michele Di Pumpo Internal Medicine Department, "T. Masselli-Mascia" Hospital
  • Matteo Conte Internal Medicine Department, "T. Masselli-Mascia" Hospital
  • Giovanni Modola San Pio" Pharmacy
  • Maria Chiara Puntonio Internal Medicine Department, "T. Masselli-Mascia" Hospital
  • Angelo Benvenuto

Keywords:

Pitavastatin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, Statin therapy, Hyperlipidemia, Cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Currently, different statins are available for the treatment of dyslipidemia: Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravastatin, and Fluvastatin; the newest entry in this class of drugs is Pitavastatin.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the latest evidences on Pitavastatin, more than 10 years after its first marketing and focuses on the most recent evidence regarding its differences with other available statins. A literature review of the last 3 years (January 2013 - January 2016) has been carried out via Pub Med. 193 obtained items were analysed.

Pitavastatin has been studied against other drugs in its class and has demonstrated high potency in reducing LDL-Cholesterol levels and increasing HDL-Cholesterol. Pitavastatin has demonstrated a significant reduction in atherosclerotic plaque volumes and several pleiotropic effects, which suggest its potential benefits in reducing cardiovascular risk.

At present, Pitavastatin don’t seem to have adverse effects on glucose metabolism; it has no adverse effects on renal function and currently there is no clinical evidence of Pitavastatin-induced hepatotoxicity. Pitavastatin has favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles and its characteristic structure provides significant efficacy at low doses.

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Published

2016-03-11

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