Clinical pharmacology of DEAE-dextran for long-term administration (one year)

Twenty-eight patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia types II and IV according to Fredrickson were treated for one year with diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DEAE-D). The drug, used at a daily oral dosage of 2 to 3 g, proved very effective in reducing both blood cholesterol and triglycerids (mean reduction was 24 percent and 31 percent respectively). The drug also proved itself to be remarkably free from side-effects, as assessed both by a comprehensive check of biochemical parameters as well as by the patients themselves. The results obtained confirm the hypolipaemic effectiveness of DEAE-Dextran, due to an increased elimination of bile acids and fatty acids by the G.I. route.