Rate of LCAT-mediated cholesterol esterification and serum lipids during etiroxate therapy in hyperlipoproteinemia

Changes in the rate of the plasma cholesterol ester production mediated by lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT, E.C. 2.3.1.43) were examined in 15 patients suffering from types II and IV HLP who had been treated for 14 weeks with etiroxate. Whereas the plasma cholesterol concentration decreased significantly only in the initial phase of the therapy, the rate of cholesterol esterification increased gradually and attained at the end of the study a value exceeding by 50% the initial level. The final fractional turnover rate nearly equalled that characteristic for the control group of healthy subjects, in spite of the fact that the concentration of plasma cholesterol in the diseased subjects was higher by 50-100%. Triglyceride concentration decreased only transitorily in the course of the therapy with etiroxate. It is concluded that etiroxate is likely to normalize the rate of cholesterol turnover in the endogenous pool.