Comparative study between pitavastatin and atorvastatin in lowering blood lipid in patients early after coronary artery bypass graft

AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin (2 mg) and atorvastatin (20mg) in lowering blood lipids in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. METHODS An open-blind randomized control trial was conducted in single cardiac center with 196 CABG patients for 12 weeks. RESULTS TC, LDL-C and TG levels at the 12th week after CABG decreased significantly compared with baseline (P<0.05). There were no differences between the two groups. HDL-C levels increased at the 12th week when compared with baseline (P<0.05). There were no differences between the two groups. ALT, AST and CK levels increased at the 1st week when compared with baseline and the ALT and CK levels were higher in the atorvastatin group. ALT, AST and CK levels were no different to baseline levels at the 12th week after CABG in the pitavastatin group, but ALT and CK levels in the atorvastatin group were higher when compared with baseline. CONCLUSION Pitavastatin is a safe and effective medication for lowering blood lipid in patients after CABG. Pitavastatin (2 mg) and atorvastatin (20 mg) can achieve similar effects in decreasing TC, LDL-C and TG levels and increasing HDL-C levels.