EFFECTS OF FLUVASTATIN ON LIPID PROFILE AND APOLIPOPROTEINS IN CHINESE PATIENTS WITH HYPERCHOLESTOROLEMIA

The effects of fluvastatin treatment on lipid profile and apolipoprote ins were assessed in a group of 31 Chinese patients with hypercholeste rolemia, maintained on a constant low-fat diet, Some patients had the additional cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension and non-insulin -dependent diabetes mellitus, and 6 patients had familial hypercholest erolemia. Baseline lipid levels were measured after a 4-week placebo p eriod, and these were repeated after 4 weeks of treatment with fluvast atin 20 mg daily, and after 4 weeks of treatment with fluvastatin 40 m g daily. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a polipoprotein (apo) B were each reduced to the same extent with the 2 doses of fluvastatin (-20%, -26%, and -20%, respectively). Triglycerid es and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol were also reduced by a bout 12% with the 2 doses of fluvastatin. Apo A-I was increased by 7% and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased by 10% with the 40 mg dose. The increase in HDL-C was due to increases in bot h HDL(2)-C (18%) and HDL-C (7%). Lipoprotein(a) levels did not show an y significant change with the 2 doses of fluvastatin in this short-ter m study. One patient developed reversible asymptomatic elevation of li ver enzymes with the higher dose of fluvastatin; otherwise the drug wa s well tolerated and no patients had to be withdrawn from the study.