[Comparative studies of the lipid-lowering activity of etiroxate hydrochloride and dextrothyroxine (author's transl)]

The effect of etiroxate and dextrothyroxine (CT4) on lipoproteins was determined in a long-term study comprising 40 patients with Type IIa hyperlipoproteinaemia and 19 patients with Type IIb. 40 mg etiroxate daily lowered the total lipids, phosphatides, cholesterol, and beta-lipoproteins more significantly than 6 mg DT4/day. After the administration of etiroxate and DT4, cholesterol decreased by 17.9% and 14.5% respectively in Type IIa and 16.6% and 12.6% respectively in Type IIb. The mean decrease in the beta-lipoproteins after etiroxate was 134 plus or minus 75 mg/100 ml in Type IIa and 96 plus or minus 101 mg/100 ml in Type IIb, and after DT495 plus or minus 69 mg/100 ml in Type IIa and 79 plus or minus 58 mg/100 ml in Type IIb. Transient gastric intolerance occurred after both drugs. In susceptible patients cardiac side effects were more frequently observed after DT4 than after etiroxate, but there was no statistical difference between the two drugs or the placebo phase.