[Comparison of the lowering effect on blood cholesterol of clofibrate and simvastatin]

The authors report the results obtained in a comparative study of effects of clofibrate and simvastatin. The investigation was carried out on 44 patients with type IIB hypercholesterolemia subdivided into two groups. Throughout the study, patients observed a diet of about 1500 Kcal daily. Thirty days before starting drug treatment, all patients were given a placebo daily, either of the two drugs being administered during the subsequent 30 days. Plasma cholesterol level was examined before starting placebo and before drug treatment and every five days throughout drug treatment. The results obtained showed that both drugs reduced cholesterol plasma level significantly but the reduction obtained with simvastatin was greater than that obtained with clofibrate. The specificity of the use of these drugs in the management of hypercholesterolemia is stressed.