BACKGROUND: Treatment of hyperlipoproteinaemias (HLP) is a basic step in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and its complications. Simvastatin is among hypolipidaemic agents a preparation for which at present there is most evidence from intervention trials. On the Czech market are at present in addition to the original one also some other preparations of simvastatin. In the submitted paper the authors present results achieved with the preparation Simvor (Rambaxy, distribution in CR Interchemia), tablets containing 20 mg simvastatin. CHARACTERISTIC OF GROUP AND METHODS: In 15 departments in the CR a total of 185 patients with HLP were examined, 98 men and 87 women, mean age 55.8 years. The patients were treated after a minimal 4-week period of non-pharmacological treatment with simvastatin 20 mg for a period of 6 weeks. The patients were subjected at the onset and end of treatment to a complete medical examination, basic parameters of lipid metabolism were assessed and a safety laboratory was involved. Facultatively in some departments additional examinations were made.

RESULTS: The total cholesterol level 7.26 +/- 1.01 mmol/l declined on average by 1.64 mmol/l i.e. to 5.62 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol declined from the original value of almost 5 mmol/l to 3.55 mmol/l. The baseline triglyceride concentration 3.07 declined by 1 mmol/l to 2.09 mmol/l, and HDL-cholesterol which was in a normal range already at the onset of treatment did not change significantly, i.e. its slight increase did not reach statistical significance. Treatment was well tolerated and in the safety laboratory no significant deviations from normal were recorded.

DISCUSSION: The results achieved in our patients are as far as the investigated parameters are concerned, comparable with or even better than the results presented in the ample literature. The safety and tolerance of treatment of the investigated preparation is also very good. Unfortunately we did not have an opportunity during our short-term follow up to evaluate the influence of the investigated preparation on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases or mortality. In this respect we can only refer to positive results assembled with simvastatin in large statin intervention "megatrials".

CONCLUSION: Treatment with decline of total and LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Treatment was well tolerated by the patients, in the safety laboratory no significant deviations were detected.

Keywords: Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors /therapeutic use/; Hyperlipoproteinemias /drug therapy/; Hypolipidemic Agents /therapeutic use/; Male; Middle Aged; Simvastatin /therapeutic use/