title: Long-term effects of simvastatin in familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia.
abstract: The long-term effects (66 weeks) of simvastatin (40 mg in one or two doses per day), an inhibitor of HMG CoA-reductase, were evaluated in 12 patients with familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia (type III hyperlipoproteinaemia). Simvastatin had a persistent hypolipidaemic effect; the mean reduction in serum cholesterol was 36-51%, and the mean reduction in serum triglycerides was 32-55%. The decrease in serum lipids was caused by a decline in VLDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels; the mean ratio between VLDL-cholesterol and serum triglycerides decreased significantly from 1.06 to 0.73. There was no significant difference between the once-a-day and twice-a-day regimens. Simvastatin was well tolerated; no serious side-effects were observed. These data demonstrate the usefulness of simvastatin in the therapy of familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Stuyt
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Stalenhoef
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006952:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin