A comparative crossover study of the effects of fluvastatin and pravastatin (FP-COS) on circulating autoantibodies to oxidized LDL in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

This study compared the effects of fluvastatin and pravastatin on the in vivo oxidation of LDL in a crossover design to evaluate whether or not it is justified to switch between the two statins with regard to serum levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins (apo), and circulating autoantibodies to oxidized LDL (OxLDL-Ab). Patients with hypercholesterolemia (n = 46) were randomly assigned into groups who received fluvastatin (20 mg/d) or pravastatin (10 mg/d). After 3 months, they were crossed to receive the other statin for another 3 months. Circulating levels of OxLDL-Ab were measured by an OxLDL IgG ELISA test. Fluvastatin and pravastatin similarly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and apo B, and increased HDL(2)-C levels. After crossover to the other statin, these lipid parameters were not further changed by either statin. Before crossover, circulating levels of OxLDL-Ab were decreased in patients with fluvastatin treatment, but not in those with pravastatin treatment. After switching from the other statin, both fluvastatin and pravastatin further decreased OxLDL-Ab levels. In conclusion, fluvastatin at 20 mg/d and pravastatin at 10 mg/d are similar with regard to their efficacy in decreasing TC, LDL-C, and apo B levels and increasing HDL(2)-C levels. Fluvastatin lowered circulating levels of OxLDL-Ab, and these effects continued after switching to pravastatin.