Long-term efficacy with fluvastatin as monotherapy and combined with cholestyramine (a 156-week multicenter study). French-Dutch Fluvastatin Study Group.

Fluvastatin monotherapy up to 40 mg/day over 52 weeks in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia decreased plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 28%, with varying decreases in plasma triglycerides and increases in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Patients completing the 52-week study participated in a further trial to assess whether the efficacy of fluvastatin (20-40 mg/day), either as monotherapy or in combination with cholestyramine (CME; 4-16 g/day), taken at least 4 hours prior to fluvastatin, is sustained for up to 3 years. Patients were assessed every 12 weeks on average for safety and efficacy, the latter being calculated as a percent change from baseline of lipids or lipoproteins. During the second year (endpoint up to week 104), 147 patients received monotherapy (estimated mean dose, 30.2 mg/day) and 127 received additional CME (38.1 mg/day fluvastatin plus 10.1 g/day CME). During the third year (endpoint up to week 156), 140 patients received monotherapy (32.5 mg/day) and 67 received additional CME (39.3 mg/day fluvastatin plus 10.3 mg/day CME). Statistically significant reductions in mean total cholesterol and LDL-C and increases in mean HDL-C were achieved in both treatment groups and maintained throughout the study. A significant reduction in triglyceride levels was only observed at the second year endpoint in patients receiving monotherapy (-10.0%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)