Short- and long-term effects of lovastatin and pravastatin alone and in combination with cholestyramine on serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in primary hypercholesterolaemia.

The effects of the HMG CoA reductase inhibitors lovastatin and pravastatin on serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins have been studied in 35 patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia. LDL cholesterol was lowered to the same extent by both agents compared on a mg basis of each drug per day. HDL cholesterol was increased by lovastatin but not by pravastatin. The reduction in serum triglycerides, VLDL triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol was more pronounced after lovastatin than pravastatin. After 1 year the effect of combined treatment with 40 mg pravastatin and 8 g cholestyramine on the reduction in LDL cholesterol (-39%) in 13 patients was comparable to that of 80 mg lovastatin plus 8 g cholestyramine (-40%) in 12 patients with identical baseline values. Differences were also found in the effects of the combination therapy with the two drugs on HDL cholesterol, serum triglycerides, VLDL triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol, and apolipoproteins.