Effects of pitavastatin on HDL metabolism

Abstract

Low levels of circulating HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. However, whether increases in HDL-C levels protect against cardiovascular disease remains unclear. This review proposes that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) increase HDL-C levels through the production of small and lipid-poor nascent HDL/apoA-I. Statins seem to upregulate apoA-I synthesis, leading to an increase in HDL particle number and inhibition of CETP, which results in increased HDL particle size. Pitavastatin causes a greater rise in blood HDL-C levels with more efficacious production of apoA-I compared with other statins such as atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin, and has relatively low inhibitory action on CETP. This article reviews the potential role of pitavastatin in HDL therapy.

Keywords:

• adiponectin
• apoA-I
• atherosclerosis
• cardiovascular disease
• HDL cholesterol
• HDL function
• HDL particle
• pitavastatin