[Probucol: mechanism of action (author's transl)].

The mechanism of action of probucol is discussed after human and animal studies. This drug seems to have a poor or no effect on the overall cholesterol synthesis in the body and does not produce any storage of cholesterol or its metabolic intermediates (i.e. desmosterol) in the tissues. The main effect of probucol could be a decreased synthesis and/or an acceleration of plasma lipoprotein turnover; disappearance of xanthomatous lesions under traitement suggest a facilitation of cholesterol transferred from tissues to the excretion or catabolic pathways; its relevance in atheroma lesions is to be proved. Probucol seems to be a non hepatotoxic drug and induces a decrease of lithogenic index of bile.