Influence of lovastatin on concentrations and composition of lipoprotein subfractions

The effects of lovastatin therapy on concentrations and compositions of lipoproteins were examined in 14 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The drug lowered plasma levels of cholesterol in total plasma, very low density + intermediate density lipoproteins (VLDL + IDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) by 25%, 41%, and 41%, respectively. Plasma total apo B was decreased by 35%. Three VLDL subfractions--VLDL-1, VLDL-2, and VLDL-3--of progressively higher density were examined. Lovastatin therapy reduced only the heaviest--VLDL-3. Concentrations of VLDL-1 and VLDL-2 were unchanged. Total VLDL-cholesterol/apo B was reduced significantly. Drug therapy also altered the composition of LDL as shown by decreasing the cholesterol/apo B. Finally, lovastatin significantly raised HDL-cholesterol concentrations. This study showed that lovastatin modifies the composition of the major apo B-containing lipoproteins as well as reducing their concentrations.