[Guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia].

The prevalence of mild and moderate hypercholesterolemia among the middle-aged population of the G.D.R. is about 30%. Thus, this is the most important risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Primary therapeutic techniques are elimination of overweight, low-fat diet, rich in monoenic and polyenic acids, and increase of physical activity. When by these measures a decrease of cholesterol to 5.2-5.5 mmol/l is not achieved the introduction of lipid drugs is to be considered in dependence on the individual risk (associated risk factors like smoking, hypertension, diabetes, low HDL-cholesterol). In case of mild to moderate polygenic hypercholesterolemia cholestyramine, nicotinic acid and modern fibrates have the priority. Familial hypercholesterolemia demands as a rule the introduction of statins (e.g. lovastatin) or combinations of the above mentioned lipid drugs or the combination of cholestyramine and lovastatin, resp. In this way the prognosis even of patients with severe familial hypercholesterolemia can be improved decisively. Considering the fact that this would be a life-accompanying therapy a thorough consideration of the risk/benefit ratio and an adequate medical supervision are necessary.