Effects of two different HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on thromboxane production in type IIA hypercholesterolemia

Summary Many studies have found that familial hypercholesterolemia, a hyperlipoproteinemia associated with premature atherosclerosis, is characterized by enhanced platelet aggregation. This study was undertaken to measure the urinary excretion of the two main urinary thromboxane B2 (TXB2) metabolites (2,3-dinor-TXB2 and 11-dehydro-TXB2) in 20 patients affected by familial hypercholesterolemia treated for one month with 40 mg/day of pravastatin (10 patients) in comparison to 10 normocholesterolemic subjects. After a run-in period, the type II A patients showed total cholesterol levels (296 ± 32 mg/dL) significantly higher ( P P r = 0.61, P r = 48, P P P