The effect of cyclandelate on cholesterol metabolism in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HtFH) is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Prevention is possible by increasing the number of functioning receptors of low density lipoproteins (LDLs) in the liver. This is partly achieved by treatment with bile acid sequestrants, such as cholestyramine, but the effect is limited because of a concomitant increase in cholesterol synthesis. It was the purpose of this study to determine whether the increase in cholesterol synthesis could be influenced by treatment with cyclandelate, since it is known that cyclandelate inhibits cholesterol synthesis in rats. Ten patients received cyclandelate (3.2 g daily in 2 doses) or placebo in a double-blind cross-over study, with each treatment period of 3 months' duration. During these periods, treatment with cholestyramine (16 g daily) was continued. No evidence was found of inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by cyclandelate, as indicated by the serum concentration of the cholesterol precursor, lanosterol, which remained unchanged. Neither the serum concentration of LDL, nor those of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, A-I or A-II, were affected. Thus, it can be concluded that treatment with cyclandelate was not effective in lowering serum cholesterol concentrations in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia who received concomitant cholestyramine therapy.