Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (Posch). A Secondary Intervention Trial — 4-Year Lipid Results

Abstract

The Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH) is a randomized secondary intervention clinical trial of the effects of lipid modification on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. All participants must have experienced one well documented myocardial infarction (MI), have coronary atherosclerosis, and be relatively free of other health problems. Up to 1000 patients are being enrolled in four clinical centers in the United States of America (USA), half receiving the partial ileal bypass (PIB) operation to reduce their plasma total cholesterol by an average of 30% and LDL cholesterol by an average of more than 40%, with the other half serving as controls. Participants are followed intensively for five years and less intensively thereafter. The primary endpoint for POSCH is death from any cause. A number of secondary endpoints and variables are also followed, including serial coronary arteriography. POSCH is funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the USA.