Impact of intensive lipid-lowering therapy of pitavastatin on metabolism, safety and prognosis in patients early after CABG

  AIM   To evaluate the matabolism, safety and prognosis of the pitavastatin (4 mg VS 2 mg) in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

  METHODS   An open-blind randomized control trial was conducted in a single cardiac center including 152 CABG patients for 6 months.

  RESULTS   ALT, AST and CK levels were increased at 1st week after CABG compared with baseline in both groups and there were no differences between groups. ALT, AST, CK, SCr and nondiabetic FPG levels were comparable with that of baseline levels at 6^th month after CABG in both groups. TC and LDL-C levels at 6^th month after CABG were decreased significantly compared with that at baseline in the both groups (P < 0.05) with the 4 mg group lower than the 2 mg group (P < 0.05). There were more patients in the 4 mg group than the 2 mg group in whom the statin reduced LDL-C more than 50%. HDL-C levels were increased at 6^th month compared with baseline (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the two groups. TG levels at 6^th month after CABG were similar with baseline in both groups. The incidence rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was similar between the two groups at 6 months.

  CONCLUSION   High dose of pitavastatin (4 mg) is more effective than low dose (2 mg) in decreasing LDL-C and equally safe with regards to increases in ALT, AST, CK, SCr and FPG levels early after CABG. The dosage of pitavastatin does not impact the incidence of MACE.