• All-cause mortality
• Stroke
• Peripheral artery disease; and
• Cancer

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the long-term use of highly (＞98%) purified EPA, in addition to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin), would be more effective than statin alone in preventing cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Epidemiological studies from many countries including Finland, Italy, Japan, and The Netherlands have suggested that an increased intake of dietary fish or fish oil rich in the long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is inversely related to the risk of atherothrombotic diseases, in particular coronary artery disease (CAD).

Results of many prospective observational cohort studies have found that diets rich in marine PUFAs may be protective against major cardiovascular events, including mortality from CAD, total cardiovascular death, all-cause mortality, and nonfatal myocardial infarction. To date, only a few studies have examined the effects of purified n-3 PUFA preparations in human subjects for short observation periods. The principle aim of the current study is to test the hypothesis that the long-term use of highly purified EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid: 1800mg/day), in addition to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, is effective in preventing cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia.

• Yokoyama M, Origasa H; JELIS Investigators. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia: rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS). Am Heart J. 2003 Oct;146(4):613-20.
• Oikawa S, Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, Matsuzawa Y, Saito Y, Ishikawa Y, Sasaki J, Hishida H, Itakura H, Kita T, Kitabatake A, Nakaya N, Sakata T, Shimada K, Shirato K; JELIS Investigators, Japan. Suppressive effect of EPA on the incidence of coronary events in hypercholesterolemia with impaired glucose metabolism: Sub-analysis of the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS). Atherosclerosis. 2009 Oct;206(2):535-9. Epub 2009 Apr 5.
• Matsuzaki M, Yokoyama M, Saito Y, Origasa H, Ishikawa Y, Oikawa S, Sasaki J, Hishida H, Itakura H, Kita T, Kitabatake A, Nakaya N, Sakata T, Shimada K, Shirato K, Matsuzawa Y; JELIS Investigators. Incremental effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on cardiovascular events in statin-treated patients with coronary artery disease. Circ J. 2009 Jul;73(7):1283-90. Epub 2009 May 8.
• Saito Y, Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, Matsuzawa Y, Ishikawa Y, Oikawa S, Sasaki J, Hishida H, Itakura H, Kita T, Kitabatake A, Nakaya N, Sakata T, Shimada K, Shirato K; JELIS Investigators, Japan. Effects of EPA on coronary artery disease in hypercholesterolemic patients with multiple risk factors: sub-analysis of primary prevention cases from the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS). Atherosclerosis. 2008 Sep;200(1):135-40. Epub 2008 Jun 19.
• Tanaka K, Ishikawa Y, Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, Saito Y, Matsuzawa Y, Sasaki J, Oikawa S, Hishida H, Itakura H, Kita T, Kitabatake A, Nakaya N, Sakata T, Shimada K, Shirato K; JELIS Investigators, Japan. Reduction in the recurrence of stroke by eicosapentaenoic acid for hypercholesterolemic patients: subanalysis of the JELIS trial. Stroke. 2008 Jul;39(7):2052-8. Epub 2008 May 1.
• Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, Matsuzawa Y, Saito Y, Ishikawa Y, Oikawa S, Sasaki J, Hishida H, Itakura H, Kita T, Kitabatake A, Nakaya N, Sakata T, Shimada K, Shirato K; Japan EPA lipid intervention study (JELIS) Investigators. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on major coronary events in hypercholesterolaemic patients (JELIS): a randomised open-label, blinded endpoint analysis. Lancet. 2007 Mar 31;369(9567):1090-8.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible participants had a total cholesterol level of ≧250mg/dL(6.5m mol/L) at baseline.
• Hyperlipidemic patients with serum total cholesterol of 250mg/dL or more. (Measurement of serum total cholesterol)
• Serum total cholesterol should be measured twice at interval of 2-4weeks. A single measurement is acceptable if the cholesterol is measured by blood collection at fasting under strict compliance with dietary advice after withdrawal of the antihyperlipemic drug.
• (Wash Out) The wash out period of 4weeks (8 weeks for probucol) is necessary in patients under treatment with antihyperlipemic drug. However, if treatment with the antihyperlipemic drug was started within 6 months of the initiation of the study, the patient can participate in the study without the washout period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute myocardial infarction occurring within last 6 months
• Unstable angina pectoris
• A history or complication of serious heart disease(severe arrhythmia, heart failure, cardiac myopathy, valvular disease, congenital disease, etc.)
• Receiving cardiovascular reconstruction within last 6 months
• Cerebrovascular disorders occurring within last 6 months
• Complication of serious hepatic disease or renal disease
• Malignant tumor
• Uncontrollable diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia arising from the following disease: Nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, secondary hyperlipidemia due to other disease
• Hyperlipidemia due to some drugs such as steroid hormone
• Hemorrhage(hemophilia, capillary fragility, gastrointestinal ulcer, urinary tract hemorrhage, hemoptysis, vitreous hemorrhage, etc.)
• Hemorrhagic diathesis
• Hypersensitivity to the study drug formulation
• Patients intending to undergo surgery
• Patients judged to be inappropriate by the physician in charge