[Effects of simvastatin on atherogenic blood lipid pattern]

The effect of a 6-month treatment with simvastatin, an HMG CoA-reductase inhibitor, on serum lipoprotein pattern was investigated in patients affected by primary hypercholesterolemia. After 4-6 weeks of lipid lowering diet, 46 patients showing serum cholesterol greater than 250 mg/dl and triglycerides less than 200 mg/dl were included in the study and treated with simvastatin (10-30 mg/day) plus diet. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides levels significantly decreased at the end of the follow-up (-27%, -33%, -22%, -26% respectively). Apolipoprotein A1 showed a significant increase as well as HDL-cholesterol, HDL3-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1/B ratio. This study provides further findings on the simvastatin efficacy to normalize the lipoprotein pattern in primary hypercholesterolemia.