title: Long-term treatment (2 years) with the HMG CoA reductase inhibitors lovastatin or pravastatin in combination with cholestyramine in patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: The effects of the two HMG CoA reductase inhibitors lovastatin and pravastatin in combination with 12-16 g cholestyramine on serum lipids were studied in 18 patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia. Combined therapy of cholestyramine with lovastatin (80 mg daily) decreased low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 44% (baseline 7.65 +/- 0.51 mM) and increased high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 20% (baseline 1.22 +/- 0.12 mM) in 9 patients after 2 years. In 9 other patients with comparable baseline lipid values, cholestyramine plus pravastatin (40 mg daily) reduced LDL cholesterol to a comparable extent after 2 years (-43%, baseline 7.71 +/- 0.44 mM) and increased HDL cholesterol by 18% (baseline 1.06 +/- 0.11 mM). The combination with lovastatin led to a significant reduction in triglycerides level by 25% (baseline 1.63 +/- 0.24 mM), whereas the combination with pravastatin did not change triglycerides level (baseline 1.39 +/- 0.15 mM). Both drug regimens were well tolerated without serious side effects. The effects of both HMG CoA reductase inhibitors after 2 years were comparable to those after short-term intake and after 1-year therapy without loss of efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D008148:Lovastatin; D017035:Pravastatin