LAUSR

AIMS Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is correlated with systemic atherosclerosis. Statin therapies have been proved to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, protecting T2DM patients from cardiovascular events. Recently, more interest has been focused on the regression of lower extremity atherosclerotic disease (LEAD) for the potential prevention of amputation. However, the effects of pitavastatin and atorvastatin on LEAD in T2DM patients have not been directly compared. METHODS This study compared the effects of pitavastatin and atorvastatin on femoral total plaque areas (FTPA), and lipids and glucose metabolism in T2DM patients with elevated LDL-C level and LEAD. T2DM patients with LDL-C level > 2.6mmol/L and LEAD were randomly assigned to receive either pitavastatin 2mg/d or atorvastatin 10mg/d for 48 weeks. FTPA were measured at baseline and the end of the study. Levels of glucose and lipids profile were measured periodically. The efficacy was evaluated in 63 patients. RESULTS The percent change in FTPA measurements were similar between pitavastatin group and atorvastatin group (-17.79±21.27% vs -14.34±16.33%), as were the changes in LDL-C (-44.0±18.0% vs -40.3±18.2%) and triglyceride (17.6±20.0% vs 16.2±17.0%). But the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly higher in the pitavastatin group compared with the atorvastatin group after 48 weeks of treatment (12.9±10.3% vs 7.2±11.7%, P<0.05). There were no significant differences between groups for the measurements of glucose metabolism. CONCLUSION In T2DM patients with elevated LDL-C level and LEAD, 48 weeks of treatment with either pitavastatin or atorvastatin was associated with significant regression of FTPA. Pitavastatin treatment resulted in a significantly higher HDL-C level compared with atorvastatin treatment.