[Effects of simvastatin on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins (A1 and B). 24 cases of major primary hypercholesterolemia].

We studied the effects of simvastatin (MK 733), a new competitive inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase, alone and in combination with a bile acid sequestrant, cholestyramine, on serum levels of lipoproteins and apoproteins A1 and B, in 24 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. After simvastatin treatment (40 mg/day) alone for 12 weeks, serum total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 31 and 36 percent respectively. With the addition of cholestyramine, there was a 41 per cent total decrease in serum cholesterol from the control value and a 50 percent decrease in low density lipoprotein cholesterol.