Open AccessEffect of simvastatin on Lp(a) concentrations
Author(s) -
Haffner Stevhn,
Orchard Trevor,
Stein Evan,
Schmidt Donald,
Labelle Patrice
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960180507
Subject(s) - medicine , simvastatin , cardiology
The effect of HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors on Lp(a) concentrations is controversial, with some studies showing an increase and others showing no effect on Lp(a) concentrations. Many of these studies have been limited by small sample size and the lack of a prospective design. We evaluated the effect of four treatments: (1) placebo, (2) simvastatin 10 mg PO QPM, (3) simvastatin 20 mg PO QAM, and (4) simvastatin 20 mg PO QPM on Lp(a) concentrations in a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial of 24 weeks in 343 subjects in 28 clinical sites in the United States. Simvastatin was not associated with a change in Lp(a) concentrations relative to placebo. These results were not affected by controlling for race, initial Lp(a) level, or urinary albumin excretion. Simvastatin significantly reduced low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (10 mg PO QPM: ‐ 27.6%; 20 mg PO QAM: ‐ 28.1%; and 20 mg PO QPM: ‐ 34.3%, all p<0.001). It was concluded that in a large, randomized, controlled trial, simvastatin does not affect Lp(a) levels but markedly lowers LDL cholesterol levels.