title: Comparative effects of simvastatin and cholestyramine in treatment of patients with hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of 20 mg simvastatin (a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor) and of 16 g cholestyramine daily in the treatment of 34 hypercholesterolaemic patients have been compared after dietary treatment and stratified randomization. The effect of combined treatment with the two drugs was studied in 5 patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia. After 6 weeks of treatment the simvastatin group showed a significantly greater (p less than 0.05) decrease in the mean total plasma cholesterol concentration from 7.88 to 5.48 mmol/l than in the cholestyramine group in whom there was a fall from 7.82 to 6.73 mmol/l. Simvastatin decreased the mean plasma LDL cholesterol concentration from 6.07 to 3.76 mml/l and cholestyramine decreased it from 6.16 to 4.46 mmol/l. Simvastatin also reduced the mean plasma total triglycerides by 24%, VLDL triglycerides by 20% and VLDL cholesterol by 36%, while cholestyramine led to increases in these parameters by 64%, 85% and 63%, respectively. Mean plasma HDL cholesterol concentration and the subfractions HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol were significantly increased by simvastatin. Simvastatin and cholestyramine reduced the mean plasma apolipoprotein B concentration by 28% and 13%, respectively. The mean plasma apolipoprotein A-I concentration was significantly higher only on simvastatin treatment. Simvastatin did not cause any subjective or objective side effects, while cholestyramine caused gastrointestinal problems in 31% of patients. Small increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (S-ALT) activity were seen with both drugs. Cholestyramine significantly raised the serum alkaline phosphatase (S-ALP) although to a level still within the normal range. It is concluded that 20 mg simvastatin was more effective than 16 g cholestyramine in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mölgaard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: von Schenck
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019821:Simvastatin; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001059:Apoproteins; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin