Carotid Atorvastatin Study in Hyperlipidemic Post-Menopausal Women

Inclusion Criteria: * Postmenopausal women defined as having Age =\< 70 years with documented menopause * Fasting LDL cholesterol 130 mg/ dl (3.37 mmol/l)and =\< 190 mg/ dl (4.92 mmol/l) after 6 weeks of diet * Triglycerides =\< 4 g/l(4.52 mmol/l) * Informed, written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Age \> 70 years * Unconfirmed menopause * Overall duration of treatment with any HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitor \> 3 months within the last year * Patient treated with any lipid-lowering drugs within the last 6 weeks preceding the randomization * History of myocardial infarction, coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty, stroke or TIA * CPK levels \> 3 times upper limit of normal * Body Mass Index \>= 30