Biomedical subjects

N Forti

Publications and source records attributed to N Forti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

[Prevalence of primary dyslipidemia in subjects with and without family history of coronary disease, based on the reference values of the "National Cholesterol Education Program" (NCEP)].

PURPOSE--To compare the prevalence of primary dyslipidemia in 2 groups, based on NCEP guidelines: a) first degree relatives of revascularized patients and b) hospital employees without family history of coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS--1162 subjects aged over 20 years, were divided in two groups: G Fam consisted of 312 women and 221 men, mean age 30.8 years, siblings, brothers or sisters of revascularized patients (under 55 years old); G Serv consisted of 425 women and 204 men, mean age 30.7 years, all of them being healthy employees of Hospital das Clínicas (Clinics Hospital) with no family history of CHD. There were performed clinical, electrocardiographic and laboratory tests (total blood cholesterol--CT, triglycerides--TG and HDL cholesterol--HDL-C): and VLDL-C and LDL-C values were calculated according to Friedwald, besides CT/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. Based on NCEP guidelines, the frequencies on values ranges for each parameter were determined. RESULTS--G Fam group showed a higher incidence of women and men with CT and LDL-C levels above 240 mg/dl and 160 mg/dl, respectively; CT/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C values over 5.0 and 3.5, respectively, were seen more often in G Fam group. There were no significant differences on HDL-C and TG. About 35% of men and women in G Serv group showed CT levels higher than 200 mg/dl. CONCLUSION--First-degree relatives, aged over 20 years, from revascularized patients under 55 years old, showed more often lipid levels above those established by NCEP. In accordance to them, 62% of men and 28% of women of this group should undergo to LDL-C analysis, as well as 35% of men and 28% of women in teh G Serv group. It is called the attention for the importance of cholesterolemia evaluation in high risk groups for CHD.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Effects of lovastatin and probucol on lipoprotein fractions in patients with hypercholesterolemia. A Brazilian multicenter study].

PURPOSE: The changes in lipoproteins induced by lovastatin (L) and probucol (P) were compared in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: After a six-week period of screening, during which patients were maintained on lipid-lowering diet, they were administered placebo for four weeks. Those patients, whose total cholesterol (TC) remained above 250 mg/dl were eligible for active treatment. Thirty-one patients were administered L and P for 12 weeks. The initial dosage of L was 20 mg daily and it was titrated up to 40 mg daily at the end of the fifth week of treatment, whenever total cholesterol levels remained above 200 mg/dl; P was administered at a dosage of 500 mg b.i.d. through 12 weeks. Lipid analyses (TC, triglycerides-Tg, high-density cholesterol (HDL-C) non HDL cholesterol, low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) very low-density cholesterol (VLDL-C) and the ratios CT/HDL-C and laboratory safety measurements were performed during placebo period and at the end of the 5th and 12th weeks of active treatment. Clinical and ophthalmological evaluations were performed and eventual adverse reactions were recorded on different occasions. RESULTS: 1) L induced decrease of TC, LDL-C/HDL-C of 27.9, 34.1, 32.2, 30.9 and 36.5% respectively. These reductions were significantly more pronounced than those induced by P (21.7, 23.8, 24.5, 11.3 and 13.4% respectively); 2) L induced an increase of HDL-C of 6.8%, while P induced a reduction of HDL-C of 6.9%; 3) 54.8% and 51.6% of the patients treated with L showed reductions of the ratios TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C respectively. The patients who were administered P showed decrease in those indices of 15.7% and 13.1% respectively; 4) L was associated with 77.4% and 77.3% of excellent and good responses for TC and LDL-C. Regular and poor responses were more frequently observed during the treatment with P (39.4% each); 5) the incidence of adverse reactions was low and tolerability was considered good for both drugs. CONCLUSION: Lovastatin was more effective in the reduction of atherogenic lipoprotein fraction and in the increase of the protective one, with more pronounced reduction of the risk indices. They suggest that with the administration of L, that leads to an appropriate normalization of TC and LDL-C levels, greater benefits on morbidity and mortality of coronary disease can be achieved.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1990

[Simvastatin (MK-733), a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly patients with atherosclerosis].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin, a new and potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients, 14 female and 6 male, aged 65 to 72 years (x = 69 +/- 3), with total cholesterol (TC) above 260 mg/dl and triglycerides below 350 mg/dl were studied. All patients presented clinical evidences of atherosclerotic disease and were followed up for 6 months. Monthly visits were required for clinical and laboratory evaluation. The initial dosage of simvastatin was 10 mg/day; dosage was titrated up to 10 mg/day or to a minimum of 5 mg/day in intervals of at least 4 weeks, in order to maintain LDL-cholesterol below 140 mg/dl. To evaluate the changes on plasma lipid levels, the mean value of determinations during the placebo baseline period was compared to the mean value of determinations during the active treatment period. RESULTS: There were significant reductions of total cholesterol (-26.4%), triglycerides (-16.0%), LDL-cholesterol (-35.2%), VLDL-cholesterol (-15.4%), TC/HDL-C (-30.7%), and LDL/HDL-C (-39.5%). There was significant elevation of HDL-cholesterol (+5.2%), although this response was not uniform. The drug was well tolerated: only five patients reported transient clinical adverse experiences that subsided spontaneously. Two patients had elevation of CPK and one of TGP. The drug did not have to be discontinued in any case. Ophthalmological examinations performed before treatment compared to examinations at the end of the study showed no signficant alterations. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin in elderly patients appeared to be a potent TC and LDL-C lowering drug and presented mild but significant effect on the elevation of HDL-C. There was good tolerability, with low incidence of adverse experiences. This fact is important when one considers drug therapy for hypercholesterolemia in this age group.

Aged↗

PubMed1988