Usefulness of probucol in treating primary hypercholesterolemia.

Probucol (1 g per day) was administered in a double-blind crossover trial to 16 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who had previously been tested for their response to clofibrate. Probucol led to a fall in the plasma cholesterol concentration of 15% or more (mean 20.2%) in 5 of the 12 clofibrate-resistant patients and between 8% and 15% in 3 others. The reduction was statistically significant in 7 of these 12 patients as well as in 3 of the 4 patients sensitive to clofibrate. Thus, probucol has a place in the treatment of patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who do not respond to clofibrate.