title: Effects of lovastatin (20-80 mg daily) on lipoprotein fractions in patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: The effect of lovastatin on lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins was studied in 10 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. After four weeks diet/placebo alone, patients received diet plus lovastatin at daily doses of 20 mg (weeks 1-4), 40 mg (weeks 5-8) and 80 mg (weeks 9-12). Twelve weeks of treatment with lovastatin resulted in a lowering of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol by 34% and 41%, respectively. Triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol decreased by 19% and by 42%, respectively. HDL-cholesterol and HDL2-cholesterol increased, whereas HDL3-cholesterol was not affected. IDL-cholesterol decreased by 50%, suggesting that the clearance of remnant lipoproteins was enhanced by lovastatin. In the VLDL and the IDL fraction, the triglyceride to cholesterol mass ratio increased significantly after twelve weeks of therapy. Lipoprotein(a) was not affected. Lovastatin was well tolerated and the data shows that lovastatin exerts favorable effects on plasma lipoprotein fractions. It may, therefore, prove a useful drug in the primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic vessel diseases.
authors.affiliation: Gustav Embden-Zentrum, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grützmacher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siekmeier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schoeppe
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin