title: Reduction of plasma cholesterol by lovastatin normalizes erythrocyte membrane fluidity in patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: The effect of lovastatin on erythrocyte membrane composition and fluidity was investigated in eight patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia (mean LDL-cholesterol of 7.2 mmol l-1). Lovastatin was administered at a dosage of 40-80 mg for 20 weeks and was discontinued for 5 weeks thereafter. Parallel to a 47% fall in plasma LDL cholesterol, there was a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in erythrocyte membrane cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratio, while erythrocyte membrane fluidity assessed by diphenylhexatriene (DPH) fluorescence polarization increased significantly (P < 0.01). Discontinuation of lovastatin resulted in the reversal of erythrocyte membrane composition and fluidity to pre-treatment values.
authors: Rambam Medical Center, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Levy
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Leibowitz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Aviram
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Brook
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Cogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin