pitavastatin

Pitavastatin is a small molecule statin medication used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. It acts as a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. By inhibiting this enzyme primarily in the liver, pitavastatin reduces hepatic cholesterol synthesis, leading to upregulation of LDL receptors and increased clearance of LDL-cholesterol from circulation. This results in decreased total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (apoB), non-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) while increasing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Pitavastatin is indicated for adults with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia and for children 8 years or older with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. It also has pleiotropic effects such as improving endothelial function and reducing inflammation[1][3][6][8].

Brand names

LivaloZypitamag

Other names

pitavastatin calcium