Date - 27 September 2004

Source- Drugs in Context 2004; 1A(6): Pravastatin - Lipid disorders p211

Author - Dr Richard Clark

Pravastatin is one of five statins currently available in the UK. All statins share the same mode of action: the inhibition of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This results in the lowering of plasma cholesterol levels, particularly low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), an important predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). Statins are frequently compared according to their efficacy in lowering LDL-C, but pravastatin is less effective than some other statins in this respect. However, pravastatin has demonstrated many beneficial non-lipid-lowering (pleiotropic) effects such as improvements in endothelial function, the stabilisation of atherosclerotic plaques and slowing the progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis. More importantly, there is a wealth of evidence that pravastatin has substantial mortality and morbidity benefits in many thousands of patients, both in a primary and secondary prevention setting, together with an excellent safety and tolerability profile.

Keywords: Pravastatin, Lipid disorders