title: Effects of simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with elevated levels of serum triglycerides (TG) often have other associated lipid abnormalities (e.g., low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) and are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Although the therapeutic benefits of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) in hypercholesterolemic patients have been well established, less is known about the effects of statins in patient populations with hypertriglyceridemia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lipoprotein-altering efficacy of simvastatin in hypertriglyceridemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. In all, 195 patients with fasting serum triglyceride levels between 300 and 900 mg/dl received once daily doses of placebo or simvastatin 20, 40, or 80 mg for 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo, simvastatin treatment across all doses resulted in significant reductions (p < 0.05 - < 0.001) in serum levels of triglycerides (-20 to -31% decrease) and TG-rich lipoprotein particles. Significant (p < 0.001) reductions were also seen in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-25 to -35%) and non-HDL-C (-26 to -40%). Levels of HDL-C were increased (7-11%) in the simvastatin groups compared with placebo (p < 0.05 - < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrate the beneficial effects of simvastatin in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
authors.affiliation: Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isaacsohn
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hunninghake
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schrott
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dujovne
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: Stuart R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bays
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Crouse
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Leonard M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Keilson
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKenney
authors.forename: Stanley G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Korenman
authors.forename: Adrian S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dobs
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Darbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maccubbin
authors.forename: Meehyung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Diane J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Plotkin
authors.forename: Yale B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Mitchel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019821:Simvastatin