PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT WITH LOVAST ATIN OF GERIATRIC-PATIENTS - EFFECTS ON ANTIOXIDANTS

In 12 geriatric patients with hypercholesterolemia type IIa according to Fredrickson, the effect of 3 months therapy with lovastatin, a HMGC oA-reductase inhibitor, on serum lipids, apolipoproteins, a-tocopherol and on fatty acid pattern of red cell membranes was investigated. The therapy lead to reductions of serum low density liporotein cholestero l (LDL-CH) by -34%, the atherogenic index LDLCH/HDL-CH by -35% and apo lipoprtein B by -26%. No change in the vitamin E status, as related to plasma total lipids, was observed during the 3 months of therapy, The fatty acid patterns of phospholipids from red cell membranes showed a n increase in linoleic acid metabolites and a decrease of the precurso r linoleic acid, indicating of fatty acid desaturases by lovastatin. I n addition, an increase in the plasmalogen portion of erythrocyte memb rane phospholipids was indicated by increasing the proportion of fatty aldehyde dimethyl acetals (DMA). This increase may counteract the slo w but consistent decrease of plasmalogens in red cell membranes and hu man aortas with increasing age or in arteriosclerosis. Since plasmalog ens possibly are physioiogicai antioxidants, the observed increase of plasmalogens is discussed as an antioxidative principle of lovastatin therapy.