[Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of pravastatin in primary hypercholesterolemia]

Hypercholesterolemia can be a risk factor which engenders coronary heart disease. Today, it seems certain that lowering the cholesterolemia reduces this risk, especially if this reduction is referred to the cholesterol which is linked to the low density lipoprotein, called LDL. It has been demonstrated that the principle way to remove the LDL is by getting it into the hepatocyte through a specific membrane receptor, the research, therefore, has been developed with the aim of pharmacologically modifying the quota of intercellular cholesterol and consequently, in the modulation of the receptivity function by the interference of the LDL uptake, assisting a faster clearance. We can identify a new class of pharmacological drugs, that are the specific inhibitors of the HMGCoA reductase, fundamental enzime in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. This group of inhibitors has recently been enriched by the addition of a new molecule pravastatin. Our task has been to confirm the effectiveness and tolerability of pravastatin, administered for a prolonged period to patients with high levels of cholesterolemia; we have compared it with gemfibrozil, a well-known medicine which has hypocholesterolemic effects. In conclusion, our work, whilst emphasising the expediency of ipolipidic treatment, has undoubtedly proved, that 40 mg of pravastatin in a single evening dose, shows a high degree of efficiency, without side effects. Due to these factors, we can also say that pravastatin prevents, or really induces the regression, of atheroscherotic disease.