Effect of pitavastatin on increasing of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and regression of carotid artery plaque

INTERVENTION: Oral administration of pitavastatin(2 mg/day) for a year. The dosage may be modulated according to the clinical parameters (pitavastatin 1 ‐ 4 mg). CONDITION: hypercholesterolemia PRIMARY OUTCOME: Correlation between %change of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and regression of carotid artery plaque. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Correlation between %change of LDL‐C/ApoA1/hsCRP and regression of carotid artery plaque.; 2. Incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; defined as cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina/cardiac failure/stroke / any other cardiac events required hospitalization).; 3. Incidence of adverse effects. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients who were diagnosed as hypercholesterolemia based in Japan Atherosclerosis Society guidelines for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.