Effectiveness of low-dose lovastatin combined with low-dose colestipol in moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia

Abstract

Tonstad S, Ose L, G0rbitz C, Harrison EM, de Koning Gans HJ. Effectiveness of low-dose lovastatin combined with low-dose colestipol in moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1993; 53: 457-463.

The effect of the combination of low-dose lovastatin and low-dose colestipol was studied among 57 subjects with moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol ≥ 7.0mmoll⁻¹). Following an 8-week dietary phase, participants were randomized to treatment with 20 mg of lovastatin combined with 5 g or with 10 g of colestipol, or to matching placebo. Baseline total cholesterol was 7.7± 0.9mmoll⁻¹ after dietary stabilization. Total cholesterol levels were reduced to 5.6 ± 0.7mmoir' and 5.8 ± 0.7mmoll⁻¹ after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment in the lovastatin 5g⁻¹ colestipol group, and 74% of the subjects achieved the goal of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels of ≥ 4.0mmoll^−l. Among the lovastatin 10 g⁻¹ colestipol group, total cholesterol was reduced to 5.4± 0.5mmoll⁻¹ and 5.5 ± 0.9mmoH⁻¹ following 4 and 8 weeks, and 80% of subjects achieved the LDL cholesterol goal. No change was seen in the placebo group. Thus, low-dose combination therapy with lovastatin and colestipol, in conjunction with dietary treatment, is effective in moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia, and is well tolerated.

Key Words:

• apolipoproteins
• colestipol
• hyperlipoproteinaemia
• lipoprotein (a)
• lovastatin
• treatment response