SATURN Trial

To compare the effects of two intensive lipid lowering treatment regimens (statins) on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis and to assess their safety and side-effect profiles.

Study of Coronary Atheroma by Intravascular Ultrasound: Effect of Rosuvastatin Versus Atorvastatin (SATURN) trial was a randomized trial which enrolled 1049 patients with known coronary artery disease, to study the effects of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Percent atheroma volume and total atheroma volume were assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) at baseline and after 104 weeks of treatment with either rosuvastatin 40 daily and atorvastatin 80 mg daily.

At the end of 104 weeks:

• Serum LDL-C levels were lower in the rosuvastatin group than atorvastatin group.
• Similarly serum HDL-C levels were higher in the rosuvastatin group than in atorvastatin group.
• Percent atheroma volume (PAV), decreased by 0.99% with atorvastatin and by 1.22% with rosuvastatin.

Maximal doses of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin resulted in significant regression of coronary atherosclerosis. Even though rosuvastatin achieved a lower LDL-C and higher HDL-C levels compared to atorvastatin, a similar degree of regression of PAV was observed in both the treatment groups.