[A comparative study of colestipol and colestyramine in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia (author's transl)].

Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied in 20 children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolemia during the administration of two anion exchange resins. All the patients' cholesterol levels had been stabilized by treatment with a cholesterol-lowering diet for at least 12 months. Colestyramin (0.6 g per kg body weight) or Colestipol (0.5 g per kg body weight) were given for eight weeks each in a cross-over design. In 6 children, the study had to be terminated due to gastrointestinal problems. Cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids were determined serially in whole serum and in isolated lipoprotein fractions. Apolipoprotein-B was determined by radial immunodiffusion in whole serum and in the LDL-fraction. Total plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were lowered by about 25% from initial values of 290 mg/100 ml and 230 mg/100 ml, respectively and Apo-B was lowered by 20%. Low HDL-cholesterol levels in the patients remained decreased during therapy. Triglyceride and phospholipid levels were not affected by treatment. Efficacy, tolerance and side-effects were similar with both Colestyramin and Colestipol.