title: Beneficial effect of simvastatin in patients with drug resistant familial hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of simvastatin in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia refractory or intolerant to routine drug therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients were given increasing doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg simvastatin for eight week periods, followed by a control period on their former drug therapy in a prospective, crossover clinical study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (SEM) were significantly lower on 40 mg simvastatin alone than at the end of the control period (7.3 (0.3) mmol/L vs 10.7 (0.4) and 5.1 (0.3) vs 7.8 (0.5) respectively; p less than 0.01). Apo-B was also significantly lower on 40 mg simvastatin (p less than 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simvastatin offers effective cholesterol lowering for patients with drug resistant familial hypercholesterolaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lewis-Barned
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019821:Simvastatin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin