INCREASE IN PLASMA HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN(2B) SUBCLASS PROTEIN-CONCENTRATION AFTER PRAVASTATIN TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

To determine the effects of pravastatin on plasma lipid levels, on low -density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particl e size and HDL subclass protein concentration, we studied 31 patients with hypercholesterolemia (9 men and 22 women, aged 36 to 79 years [me an age, 61.5 +/- 10.3 years]). Patients were treated with pravastatin 10 mg daily for 12 weeks, After treatment, plasma levels of LDL choles terol were significantly reduced (from 197 +/- 60 to 149 +/- 56 mg/dL) , plasma levels of total cholesterol were significantly reduced (from 281 +/- 58 to 237 +/- 51 mg/dL), and levels of HDL(2b) subclass protei n were significantly increased (from 1.24 +/- 0.24 to 1.35 +/- 0.23 mg /protein/mL). Significant differences were not noted in the level of H DL cholesterol, LDL peak particle diameter, and the activity of lecith in-cholesterol acyltransferase and cholesteryl-ester transfer protein before and after treatment, The effect of pravastatin on lipoprotein c oncentration and particle size will need to be confirmed in studies wi th larger numbers of patients with various lipoprotein abnormalities.