Combination therapy of acipimox and atorvastatin in patients with high density lipoprotein deficiency

AIM To observe the combination therapy wiith acipimox and atorvastatin in patients in high density lipoprotein deficiency(HDLD).In addition to observe the comabination therapy in total cholesterol(TC),Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and triglyceride(TG).METHODS Hyperlipidemia patients coupled with HDLD were treated with acipimox(750 mg/d,n=72),or atorvastatin(10 mg/d,n=73),or a combination therapy(n=83) with acipimox(750mg/day) and atorvastatin(10 mg/day) for 6 months.RESULTES Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) increased by 21% in atorvastatin-treated patients,43% in acipimox-treated patients and 56% in combination-treated patients.Serum TC,LDL-C and TG reduced by 30%,37% and 55% respectively in combination-treated patients,while TG reduced by 44% in acipimox-treated patients and 8% in patients treated with atorvastatin.The effective rate of increasing HDL-C in combination therapy group was 62%,which was much higher than those in atorvastatin therapy group(26%) and acipimox therapy group(51%).The utility rates of decreasing TC,LDL-C and TG in combination therapy group was 51%,55% and 61% respectively and the total decreasing rate of the 3 indexes was 45%,which was higher than that in monotherapy by either drug.No adverse events were seen during the treatment period.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that combination therapy of acipimox and atorvastatin is a safe therapeutic regimen,which is safe and more effective than monotherapy in HDLD patients.