Effects of etiroxate on low density and high density lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Six female patients with a primary hyperlipoproteinemia type IIa received 40 mg/day etiroxate for 2 months. Serum lipids, low density and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, the apolipoproteins B and A-I, and cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I in ultracentrifuged HDL2 and HDL3 were analysed before and after the treatment. Etiroxate caused a significant reduction in serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and serum apolipoprotein B. Concerning the HDL, there was a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol. The analysis of HDL subfractions revealed a uniform fall in HDL2-cholesterol and HDL2-apolipoprotein A-I. It is concluded that detailed information about lipoproteins leads to a better understanding of the relationships between drug treatment and the possible prevention of atherosclerotic diseases.