| Abstract: | AIM: To study effect of simvastatin of the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (CH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Simvastatin (40 mg/day) was given for 3 months to 15 patients (3 men, 12 women, mean age 56-/+10.3 years) with hereditary type II hypercholesterolemia after washout from lipid lowering therapy. Initial level of HDL CH was below and above 1.0 mmol/l in 7 and 8 patients, respectively. Blood lipids, activity of liver enzymes and creatine kinase were determined after 1 and 3 months of therapy with simvastatin. Safety and tolerability of simvastatin were also studied. RESULTS: Simvastatin was well tolerated. In 1 patient the drug was stopped because of pain in the liver and nausea. In patients with initially low HDL CH levels of total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) CH significantly decreased by 29.6 and 36.8%, respectively, after 3 months, while level of HDL CH increased by 20% after 1 month of therapy. In patients with initially normal HDL CH levels of total and LDL CH significantly decreased by 31.1 and 32.6%, respectively, while those of triglycerides and HDL CH did not change. CONCLUSION: In patients with hereditary hypercholesterolemia 40 mg/day of simvastatin besides pronounced lowering of LDL CH level caused significant increase of HDL CH (up to 20% in 1 month) in patients with initially low level of this parameter. |
