A comparison of cholestyramine and nicotinic acid in the treatment of familial type II hyperlipoproteinaemia.

1 The effects of cholestyramine and nicotinic acid on plasma lipid concentration have been compared in patients with type IIa hyperlipoproteinaemia. 2 During a 3-month period, cholestyramine resulted in a mean decrease in cholesterol levels of 26%. Triglyceride levels rose in eight of the ten patients during treatment with this drug but in the majority of patients remained within the normal range. 3 During nicotinic acid therapy, cholesterol fell by a mean of 21% and triglyceride by a mean of 23%. 4 The slow release preparation of nicotinic acid used was acceptable to the majority of the patients studied and the results therefore suggest that this drug may be a useful alternative to the more widely used agent, cholestyramine.