Lipid-modifying effects of rosuvastatin in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia who are receiving hormone replacement therapy*

SUMMARY

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia who are receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods: After a 6-week dietary lead-in period, 135 postmenopausal women who had been taking a stable HRT regimen for at least 3 months were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 5 mg, 10 mg or placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were assessed at weeks 0, 2, 6, 10, and 12; apolipoprotein (Apo) B and Apo A-I were measured at weeks 0 and 12.

Results: Rosuvastatin 5 mg and 10 mg significantly reduced LDL-C by 38% (SE = 2.1) and 49% (SE = 2.1), respectively, compared with placebo (1% [SE = 2.1]; p < 0.001). TC, TG, Apo B, and all lipid ratios examined (LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C, and Apo B/Apo A-I) were also reduced significantly by both rosuvastatin doses ( p < 0.001). HDL-C levels increased significantly in the rosuvastatin groups (11% and 8% for 5 mg and 10 mg, respectively, vs. –0.5% for placebo; p < 0.001), as did Apo A-I levels ( p < 0.05). The combination of rosuvastatin plus HRT was well tolerated with no apparent differences among treatments in the numbers or types of adverse events reported.

Conclusions: Rosuvastatin 5 mg or 10 mg once daily is a well-tolerated and highly efficacious lipid-lowering therapy in postmenopausal women receiving HRT.

Key words: :

• Blood lipids
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Postmenopausal women
• Rosuvastatin