An evaluation of rosuvastatin: pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and tolerability.

BACKGROUND

The HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the most efficacious agents for lowering cholesterol. Statins reduce clinical cardiovascular events and are generally well tolerated.

OBJECTIVE

To review the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin, the newest and most potent of the approved statins.

METHODS

A comprehensive (PubMed) search was performed to identify relevant publications up to May 2007.

RESULTS/

CONCLUSIONS

Rosuvastatin reduces LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) by up to 50%, and by 70% when combined with ezetimibe. Rosuvastatin also reduces plasma triglycerides and increases HDL-C, and slows atherosclerosis progression in coronary and carotid arteries in both low-risk and high-risk individuals. Tolerability is comparable with other statins. Clinical trials to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes have recently been published (CORONA) or are underway.