[Lovastatin in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia]

The results of 12 weeks treatment of primary hyperlipidemias with Lovastatin are presented. This drug belonging to a new generation of hypercholesterolemic drugs inhibits the endogenous synthesis of cholesterol by means of inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase. The sample consisted of 30 men aged 28-68 years: in 17 of them heterozygotic familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was diagnosed and in 13--primary non familial hypercholesterolemia (NFH). After 12 weeks of treatment in both groups a significant reduction of total serum cholesterol concentration was observed--(-28%) and--(-32%) as well as LDL-cholesterol concentration (in both groups about -37%) and apo B concentration--(-32%) and -34%. Only in one patients with NFH a significant reduction of VLDL-cholesterol (-29%) and or triglycerides (-15%) concentrations was observed. In this group also a 9% increase of HLD-cholesterol, mainly HDL-2 concentration, was found. Side effects were observed in 6 patients--in 4 of them a minor increase of ALAT, AsPAT or CPK activities (less than 3 times above norm were observed) without any symptoms and with a spontaneous normalization with no need to stop treatment, and in 2 of them abdominal pains not causing drug treatment cessation.