EFFECT OF LOVASTATIN ON SERUM-LIPID PROFILE IN THE TREATMENT OF DYSLIPOPROTEINEMIA IN UREMIC PATIENTS ON CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS

Background: Dyslipoproteinaemia is an important risk factor for cardio vascular disease in uraemic patients on continuous ambulatory peritone al dialysis (CAPD). Lovastatin is an HMG Coenzyme A reductase inhibito r which is useful in treating non-uraemic patients with hypercholester olaemia. Aims: We conducted a single blind cross-over study versus pla cebo in 10 CAPD patients to examine the effect of lovastatin (20-40 mg ) on the serum lipid profile and its safety in uraemic patients. Metho ds: Treatment phases were of eight weeks' duration. Each four weeks' m easurements were made of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (T G), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), VLDL-cholesterol (VLDL-C), Apolipoprotein A1 & B (Apo A1 & Apo B) and Lipoprotein (a). After eight weeks, lovastatin significantly reduced TC by 29% from 6. 7 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 4.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/L, LDL-C by 41% from 4 .6 +/- 0.3 to 2.7 +/- 0.1 mmol/L and Apo B by 32% from 11 6 +/- 7 to 7 8 +/- 3 mg/dl (p < 0.01). HDL-C increased by 8% from 1.2 +/- 0.1 to 1. 3 +/- 0.2 mmol/L after eight weeks' therapy (p < 0.05). TG decreased b y 18% from 1.9 +/- 0.4 to 1.6 +/- 0.3 mmol/L (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in changes of other lipid profiles between plac ebo and drug. No adverse effects of the drug were noted during treatme nt and the liver function and muscle enzymes were not significantly al tered by either drug therapy or placebo. Results: Lovastatin appears t o be a safe and useful drug in effectively treating dyslipoproteinaemi a in CAPD patients.