EFFECT OF HMG-COA REDUCTASE INHIBITORS ON RED-BLOOD-CELL MEMBRANE-LIPIDS AND HEMORHEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Eighteen patients with familial hypercholesterolemia treated with lova statin (40 mg/day) for three months were studied to find out whether t he drug induces modifications in the lipid composition of the erythroc yte membrane and whether these induce changes in the rheological behav iour of the red blood cell. Our results show that the changes observed in plasma lipids correlate with a significant decrease in the cholest erol/phospholipid ratio of the red blood cell membrane. These changes in the lipid composition of the cell are statistically related to a de crease in the erythrocyte aggregability and an improvement in blood fi lterability probably due to an increase in the red blood cell deformab ility.