[Lovastatin in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia]. / Lowastatyna w leczeniu hipercholesterolemii.

In 9 clinics 177 patients (68 men and 109 women) aged 23-69 years with primary hypercholesterolemia (TC above 6.5 mmol/L) were treated with lovastatin for 12 weeks. The treatment was started with 20 mg daily. The dose was doubled every 4 weeks, if the total serum cholesterol level did not fall below 5.2 mmol/L. For 4 weeks before treatment with lovastatin all patients received placebo. After the first 4 weeks of therapy the mean TC level decreased significantly (from 8.09 mmol/L to 6.54 mmol/L) by 18.5%. In comparison with the results after placebo (the starting value), after the 8 weeks of the therapy the TC level reduction reached 22.4% and after 12 weeks 23.5%. The mean LDL cholesterol decreased by 26.1%, 30.8% and 32.9% after 4.8 and 12 weeks of lovastatin treatment respectively. An increase in HDL cholesterol by 5.9%, 6.0% and 7.6% and decrease in triglyceride level by 10.7%, 14.9% and 14.0% respectively was also observed. In 6 patients on lovastatin treatment symptoms of acute pancreatitis in 1 case, a cataract in 1 case and aggravation of coronary insufficiency in 4 cases were noticed. These symptoms in the light of our knowledge of the mechanism of action of the drug used and of its side effects described in other trials, may be considered of independent on lovastatin. The treatment was discontinued in 5 cases (because of gastrointestinal intolerance in 2 patients, of aggravation of coronary insufficiency in 2 patients and of pain in the right hypochondrium in 1 patient who himself decided to stop the therapy).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Assessment of outcome in treatment of cardiac shock after myocardial infarction with intravenous streptokinase]. / Ocena wyników leczenia wstrzasu zawalowego dozylnym wlewem streptokinazy.

In 1986 a prospective randomized study coordinated by the Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw was started in 10 teaching cardiology hospitals in Poland for assessment of the results of treatment with intravenous streptokinase infusion in acute myocardial infarction. The studied population comprised 927 patients admitted to intensive treatment units within 6 hours after the onset of infarction pain. For the groups treated with streptokinase or heparin 752 patients were selected at random. In 175 cases the administration of streptokinase was contraindicated. These patients received conventional treatment and served as controls. The age of the patients was from 38 to 70 years, mean age 57.6 +/- 9.3 years. In 105 out of 927 cases cardiac shock was diagnosed. In the groups of early shock during hospitalization the death rate was 82%. No statistically significant difference was found in the death rates between patients with cardiac shock treated with heparin or with streptokinase.