Effect of sotalol withdrawal on serum lipids and lipoprotein lipase activity.

Serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity were analyzed in seven hypertensive subjects using 160-480 mg sotalol daily, before and after a 3-week pause in the treatment. Triglycerides decreased and HDL cholesterol increased significantly during the break in sotalol treatment, whereas no changes occurred in total cholesterol and lipoprotein lipase. A positive correlation was found after the interruption between the lipoprotein lipase activity and the HDL cholesterol concentration. This correlation did not exist before the break in the drug treatment. On the basis of these results the effects of sotalol on lipoprotein metabolism do not seem to be mediated by lipoprotein lipase.