TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of simvastatin on plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol homeostasis in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
AU - HAGEMENAS, F. C.
AU - PAPPU, A. S.
AU - ILLINGWORTH, D. R.
PY - 1990/4
Y1 - 1990/4
N2 - We have examined the influence of simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase on plasma concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins, the rates of cholesterol biosynthesis and degradation of 125I‐labelled LDL by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes and the 24 h urinary excretion of mevalonic acid in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Patients were treated with progressively increasing doses of simvastatin (20, 40, and 80 mg day−1) taken in a twice‐daily dosage for a period of 6 weeks on each dose. Plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol decreased by 36·6%, 45·6% and 47·1% respectively on the three doses. High‐affinity degradation of 125I‐LDL by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes increased significantly on the 20 mg day−1 dosage but no further increase was observed on doses of 40 and 80 mg of simvastatin per day. Rates of 2‐14C acetate incorporation into cholesterol by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes (obtained 12–15 h after the last dose of simvastatin) increased by 62%, 71% and 29% in cells isolated from patients on 20, 40, and 80 mg day−1 of simvastatin compared with values at baseline. In contrast, the 24 h excretion of mevalonic acid in the urine fell by 16·9%, 31·4% and 31·9% respectively on these three doses. Our results indicate that the potent hypocholesterolaemic effects of simvastatin are accompanied by increases in high‐affinity LDL receptor‐mediated degradation of LDL and a compensatory increase in cholesterol biosynthesis in freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes but that rates of mevalonic acid excretion in the urine decrease. 1990 European Society for Clinical Investigation
AB - We have examined the influence of simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase on plasma concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins, the rates of cholesterol biosynthesis and degradation of 125I‐labelled LDL by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes and the 24 h urinary excretion of mevalonic acid in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Patients were treated with progressively increasing doses of simvastatin (20, 40, and 80 mg day−1) taken in a twice‐daily dosage for a period of 6 weeks on each dose. Plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol decreased by 36·6%, 45·6% and 47·1% respectively on the three doses. High‐affinity degradation of 125I‐LDL by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes increased significantly on the 20 mg day−1 dosage but no further increase was observed on doses of 40 and 80 mg of simvastatin per day. Rates of 2‐14C acetate incorporation into cholesterol by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes (obtained 12–15 h after the last dose of simvastatin) increased by 62%, 71% and 29% in cells isolated from patients on 20, 40, and 80 mg day−1 of simvastatin compared with values at baseline. In contrast, the 24 h excretion of mevalonic acid in the urine fell by 16·9%, 31·4% and 31·9% respectively on these three doses. Our results indicate that the potent hypocholesterolaemic effects of simvastatin are accompanied by increases in high‐affinity LDL receptor‐mediated degradation of LDL and a compensatory increase in cholesterol biosynthesis in freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes but that rates of mevalonic acid excretion in the urine decrease. 1990 European Society for Clinical Investigation
KW - Cholesterol biosynthesis
KW - familial hypercholesterolaemia
KW - hypolipidaemic agents
KW - low density lipoprotein
KW - mevalonic acid
KW - mononuclear leucocytes
KW - simvastatin
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1990.tb02262.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1990.tb02262.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 2112479
AN - SCOPUS:0025215317
SN - 0014-2972
VL - 20
SP - 150
EP - 157
JO - European Journal of Clinical Investigation
JF - European Journal of Clinical Investigation
IS - 2Part1
ER -