title: Simvastatin in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of simvastatin in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with hypercholesterolaemia while possible clinical and biochemical adverse effects were monitored for. Forty-three NIDDM patients with hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol > 6.5 mmol/l) used simvastatin after a detailed clinical laboratory evaluation as well as a 4-week wash-out period and a 4-week placebo baseline period. Simvastatin treatment was initiated with a 10 mg dose for 6 weeks; this was increased to 20 mg and 40 mg at 12 and 18 weeks of follow-up respectively if the total cholesterol level had not decreased to below 5.17 mmol/l. Patients were placed on a lipid-lowering diet and continued to take any regular non-lipid-lowering medication throughout the trial; side-effects were monitored at 6-week intervals until patients had taken simvastatin for 24 weeks. The mean total cholesterol level was reduced by 22.2% at the first follow-up visit, and by 24.2%, 23.3%, and 28.5% at the second, third and fourth follow-up visits respectively compared with base-line levels. A dose of 10 mg simvastatin brought about a reduction in total cholesterol similar to those found with higher doses. The mean triglyceride level was reduced by 20.9% with 20 mg simvastatin. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was not altered significantly and neither was the control of diabetes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors: Lipid Clinic, Tygerberg Hospital, Parowvallei, CP.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Steyn
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Weich
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bonnici
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Kotze
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Stander
authors: W J
authors: WJ
authors: Vermaak
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Lourens
authors: J
authors: J
authors: van Lathem
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Omar
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fourie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / 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; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin