Effect of Simvastatin Therapy on Apolipoproteins

Abstract

In a Swiss multicentre trial, the effect of simvastatin treatment in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia (cholesterol > 6.5 mmol/L; triglycerides < 5 mmol/L) was investigated. 61 patients were observed during 6 weeks of therapy with simvastatin 10mg daily, and the apolipoprotein A-I, B and A-II concentrations were determined before and after therapy. The reductions in apolipoprotein B and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol by simvastatin were similar (25.9% and 27.3%, respectively). This is consistent with the current concept of enhancement of plasma clearance of LDL particles by stimulation of LDL receptors through inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis. The increase in apolipoprotein A-I is similar to the increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, whereas the apolipoprotein A-II concentration remained unchanged.