Effects of lovastatin on ApoA- and ApoB-containing lipoproteins. Families in a subpopulation of patients participating in the Monitored Atherosclerosis Regression Study (MARS)

Arterioscler Thromb. 1994 Dec;14(12):1906-13. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.14.12.1906.

Abstract

To establish whether lovastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase, exhibits a specific effect on apolipoprotein (apo) A- and apoB-containing lipoproteins, 63 subjects, a subset of the 270 Monitored Atherosclerosis Regression Study (MARS) patients with hypercholesterolemia (190 to 295 mg/dL) and documented coronary artery disease, were randomized into either lovastatin 40 mg twice daily or matching placebo tablets twice daily. Both groups consumed a diet containing 27% calories as fat (polyunsaturated fat/saturated fat ratio, 2.85) and a daily cholesterol intake of less than 250 mg. The plasma lipid and apolipoprotein profiles were determined at the time of randomization and after 2 years of treatment, and the levels of apoA- and apoB-containing lipoprotein families were measured after 2 years of treatment. After this treatment period, the drug group was characterized in comparison with the placebo group by significantly reduced levels of total cholesterol (33%), triglycerides (30%), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (36%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (43%), apoB (36%), apoC-III (18%), and apoE (17%) and slightly but insignificantly increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (6%) and apoA-I (1%). The 2-year levels of lipoprotein containing apoA-I but no apoA-II (LpA-I) and lipoprotein containing both apoA-I and apoA-II (LpA-I/A-II) particles separated by immunoaffinity chromatography on an anti-apoA-II immunosorber did not differ between the two treatment groups. However, the apoB-containing lipoprotein (Lp) families defined by apolipoprotein composition and separated by immunoaffinity chromatography on anti-apoA-II and anti-apoC-III immunosorbers were affected in a selective manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Apolipoproteins A / blood*
  • Apolipoproteins B / blood*
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy
  • Coronary Artery Disease / genetics*
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy
  • Hypercholesterolemia / genetics*
  • Lovastatin / pharmacology*
  • Lovastatin / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins A
  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Lovastatin