title: Efficacy and tolerability of medium-term treatment with simvastatin in primary hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, a new class of hypolipidaemic agents, have been recently shown to be effective in lowering both total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol. In the present study 20 patients were treated with simvastatin for six months. Various dosing regimens of 10, 20, and 40 mg/day were employed. Administration of simvastatin 10 to 40 mg/day resulted in a 24.7 to 35.8% reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels and in a 19.5 to 26.9% decrease of total cholesterol levels. Moreover, simvastatin increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and induced a decrease in plasma triglycerides. The side-effect profile was similar to other observations and included reversible transaminase elevations, myalgia and gastrointestinal complaints. From the present study simvastatin seems to be well tolerated in the short- to medium-term and to be effective; however, its long-term tolerability needs to be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, II Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Pavia, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marnini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geroli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004798:Enzymes; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin