Abstract
Simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, was administered to nine patients with
hypercholesterolemia, and changes in the serum lipid levels as well as erythrocyte
ghost lipid peroxide levels were examined at 0, 16, 32, and 48 weeks. The serum TC,
apo-B, LDL-C, and EG-LPO levels were reduced significantly at 16 and 48 weeks, whereas
no remarkable changes were observed in the serum TG, HDL-C, Lp(a), apo-A1, A2, C2,
C3, E, or serum lipid peroxide levels. These findings suggest that simvastatin not
only improves serum lipid levels but also inhibits lipid peroxidation of the erythrocyte
membranes, and might be useful for preventing the progression of atherosclerotic vascular
lesions.
