[Lovastatin in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia]

In 9 clinics 177 patients (68 men and 109 women) aged 23-69 years with primary hypercholesterolemia (TC above 6.5 mmol/L) were treated with lovastatin for 12 weeks. The treatment was started with 20 mg daily. The dose was doubled every 4 weeks, if the total serum cholesterol level did not fall below 5.2 mmol/L. For 4 weeks before treatment with lovastatin all patients received placebo. After the first 4 weeks of therapy the mean TC level decreased significantly (from 8.09 mmol/L to 6.54 mmol/L) by 18.5%. In comparison with the results after placebo (the starting value), after the 8 weeks of the therapy the TC level reduction reached 22.4% and after 12 weeks 23.5%. The mean LDL cholesterol decreased by 26.1%, 30.8% and 32.9% after 4.8 and 12 weeks of lovastatin treatment respectively. An increase in HDL cholesterol by 5.9%, 6.0% and 7.6% and decrease in triglyceride level by 10.7%, 14.9% and 14.0% respectively was also observed. In 6 patients on lovastatin treatment symptoms of acute pancreatitis in 1 case, a cataract in 1 case and aggravation of coronary insufficiency in 4 cases were noticed. These symptoms in the light of our knowledge of the mechanism of action of the drug used and of its side effects described in other trials, may be considered of independent on lovastatin. The treatment was discontinued in 5 cases (because of gastrointestinal intolerance in 2 patients, of aggravation of coronary insufficiency in 2 patients and of pain in the right hypochondrium in 1 patient who himself decided to stop the therapy).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)