LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF LOVASTATIN IN PATIEN TS WITH HETEROZYGOUS INHERITED HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Patients with heterozygous family hypercholesterolemia (HFH) were divi ded into two groups. Group 1 patients received lovastatin in a daily d ose 40-60-80 mg under control of lipids and peripheral blood biochemis try. In 17 patients lovastatin was given as monotherapy, in 15 patient s it was combined with plasmapheresis. No hypolipidemic therapy was gi ven to ten patients of group 2. The treatment and follow-up lasted for 4.1+-1.9 years, on the average. A marked hypolipidemic effect was see n in the combined therapy. 43% of the patients became resistant to lov astatin, the resistance developed more frequently in monotherapy. The blood fibrinogen fell by 40%, spontaneous and induced platelet aggrega tion returned to normal, being somewhat higher in subjects resistant t o lovastatin therapy. The study allows that hypolipidemic therapy has reduced the risk of IHD fatal complications and progression of non-cor onary atherosclerosis in patients of group 1.