Lovastatin: an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor for lowering cholesterol.
Increased levels of cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol are known risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease. There are multiple drugs that can be used for lowering cholesterol, including lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme step in cholesterol synthesis in the body. The pharmacology of this novel agent is discussed in this article.
Frishman
W H
WH
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Rapier
R C
RC
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin