HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Del Puppo, M. Articles by Podda, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Del Puppo, M. Articles by Podda, M. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 42, 437-441, March 2001
Copyright © 2001 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Original Article

Cholesterol metabolism in primary biliary cirrhosis during simvastatin and UDCA administration

Correspondence to: M. Galli Kienle, c/o DIBIT Spettrometria di Massa, Via Olgettina, 58;–20132 Milano, Italy., marzia.gallikienle{at}unimib.it (E-mail)

Little is known about the effects of cholesterol-lowering agents in hypercholesterolemic patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The aim of this study was to compare the changes induced by simvastatin and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on cholesterol metabolism in patients with PBC and preserved liver function. Six patients with PBC were administered simvastatin (40 mg/day) for 30 days and, after a washout period of 30 days, ursodeoxycholic acid (600 mg/day) for 30 days. Serum levels of lathosterol, campesterol, 7-hydroxycholesterol, and 27-hydroxycholesterol were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. During simvastatin administration, reduction of cholesterol levels (34% in 30 days) was paralleled by the decrease of lathosterol (55%), whereas concentrations of campesterol and of the two hydroxysterols were not substantially modified. During ursodeoxycholic acid administration, a trend toward a decrease of serum cholesterol concentrations was observed after only one year of treatment, and these changes were paralleled by the decrease of campesterol serum levels. Both simvastatin and UDCA were well tolerated, and a reduction of serum liver enzyme levels occurred with the latter.

Simvastatin proved to be safe and effective in reducing serum cholesterol levels in patients with PBC by an inhibitory effect on cholesterol synthesis occurring within 24 h.—Del Puppo, M., M. Galli Kienle, A. Crosignani, M. L. Petroni, B. Amati, M. Zuin, and M. Podda. Cholesterol metabolism in primary biliary cirrhosis during simvastatin and UDCA administration. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 437;–441.

Supplementary key words: 27-hydroxycholesterol, 7-hydroxycholesterol, mass spectrometry, hypercholesterolemia, lathosterol, dietary sterols, bile acid synthesis, ursodeoxycholic acid

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M Allocca, A Crosignani, A Gritti, G Ghilardi, D Gobatti, D Caruso, M Zuin, M Podda, and P M Battezzati Hypercholesterolaemia is not associated with early atherosclerotic lesions in primary biliary cirrhosis Gut, December 1, 2006; 55(12): 1795 - 1800. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Longo, A Crosignani, P M Battezzati, C Squarcia Giussani, P Invernizzi, M Zuin, and M Podda Hyperlipidaemic state and cardiovascular risk in primary biliary cirrhosis Gut, August 1, 2002; 51(2): 265 - 269. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]