アトルバスタチンは、他のスタチン系薬剤と同様に、HMG-CoA還元酵素の競合阻害剤である。アトルバスタチンは、他のスタチンと同様にHMG-CoA還元酵素を競合的に阻害するが、他のスタチンとは異なり、完全な合成化合物である。HMG-CoA還元酵素は、3-ヒドロキシ-3-メチルグルタリル-コエンザイムA(HMG-CoA)からメバロン酸への還元を触媒し、肝臓でのコレステロール生合成の律速段階となっている。この酵素を阻害すると、de novo コレステロール合成が減少し、肝細胞上の低密度リポタンパク質受容体(LDL受容体)の発現が増加する。これにより、肝細胞へのLDLの取り込みが増加し、血中のLDL-コレステロール量が減少する。また、他のスタチン系薬剤と同様に、アトルバスタチンは血中のトリグリセリドを減少させ、HDL-コレステロールをわずかに増加させる。
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