title: Effects of long-term treatment with simvastatin on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: We investigated long-term hypolipidemic effects and clinical safety of simvastatin, a new competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in 24 patients with familial and non-familial hypercholesterolemia. Patients received up to 40 mg simvastatin for a period of 30 months. Significant decreases were noted in plasma cholesterol (30%), plasma triglycerides (25%), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (26%), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (40%), whereas an increase in plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (11%) was observed. Furthermore, the percentage decrease in plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol was independent of individual baseline concentrations. Simvastatin did not alter the composition of low density lipoproteins or high density lipoproteins. The percentage decrease in total plasma and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol was independent of apoprotein E isoforms and low density lipoprotein-receptor activity as assayed in cultured fibroblasts. The drug therapy was well tolerated and clinical examinations revealed no adverse effects. Clinical chemistry indices and hematological, as well as endocrinological parameters remained within normal limits and ranges.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Chemie am Klinikum Grosshadern der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thiery
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Creutzfeldt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Creutzfeldt
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Walli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seidel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin