SIMVASTATIN TREATMENT OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

The effects of 16 weeks therapy with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitior Simvastatin 10 - 20 mg (n = 12) was compared to placebo (n = 13) in 25 euthyreoid males with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and fasting total serum cholesterol above 6 mmol/l. Insulin dependence was define d as a glucagon stimulated C-peptide level less than 0.6 nmol/l. The s tudy was placebo-controlled, double-blind with a parallell group desig n. Body weight, blood pressure, glycemic control as well as liver enzy mes were unchanged and simvastatin was well tolerated by all patients. Ophthalmological slitlamp examination before and at the end of the st udy period did not show development of new lenticular opacities. Simva statin decreased serum total cholesterol from 6.7 +/- 1.0 mmol/l (mean +/- SD) to 4.9 +/- 0.4 (p < 0.001 vs. placebo) and LDL-cholesterol fr om 4.6 +/- 0.7 mmol/l to 2.8 +/- 0.3 (p < 0.001 vs. placebo). HDL-chol esterol and triglycerides remained unaltered. A positive influence on the atherosclerotic process in patients with insulin dependent diabete s mellitus remains, however, to be proven.