title: Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity in familial hypercholesterolemia treated with simvastatin and simvastatin plus low-dose colestipol.
abstract: In 19 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), the effects of simvastatin (S) 20 mg/d, 40 mg/d, and 40 mg/d plus low-dose colestipol (10 g/d) on plasma lipids, plasma lipoproteins, and plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity were investigated after an original dose-range escalation/descalation design. The drug regimen was changed every 8 weeks. A significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was observed, reaching 39% and 54% for the drug combination (week 28), and total apoprotein B and LDL-apoprotein B were reduced by 39% and 50%, respectively. Triglycerides were significantly lowered by S alone (up to 29% with 40 mg/d). HDL-cholesterol increased during therapy but the cholesterol content in HDL2-HDL3 fractions (isolated by ultracentrifugation) did not change significantly during the different steps. The ratio LDL-C/HDL-C fell by 57% at week 28. Plasma LCAT activity expressed as FER was significantly enhanced by S alone (+33%), and a further increase on drug combination regimen (+58%) was observed. This effect could be considered as a consequence of the increased fractional clearance of LDL-C. It tended to be sustained during the descalation part of the study. Biochemical adverse effects were scarce and transient. In conclusion, the combination therapy increased the plasma LCAT/FER activity without a preferential enhancement in HDL2-C concentration. This original design allowed to define the most appropriate individual cholesterol-lowering drug dosage in FH patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacothérapie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Desager
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horsmans
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harvengt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003084:Colestipol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D003084:Colestipol