TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL DEFECTIVE APOLIPOPROTEIN B-100 WITH PRAVASTATIN AND GEMFIBROZIL - A 2-PERIOD CROSS-OVER STUDY

Thirty patients with familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 were trea ted in a two-period (8 weeks each) cross-over study with pravastatin a nd gemfibrozil. Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apo B were reduced b y 20-25% (P < 10(-4)) by pravastatin and by 4-6% by gemfibrozil (prava statin vs. gemfibrozil: P < 10(-4)). Response to pravastatin was varia ble and not correlated to gender, age, or apo E genotype. Gemfibrozil lowered triglycerides by 25% (P < 10(-4)) and raised HDL cholesterol b y 11%. The effects of pravastatin on these two interrelated variables were significantly smaller. Both drugs increased Lp(a) significantly b y about 10%. The LDL cholesterol lowering effect of pravastatin in pat ients with FDB is similar to that observed in patients with familial h ypercholesterolemia.