pantetheine and Hyperlipoproteinemia-Type-II

In a single-blind, crossover, completely randomized study, the effects of oral treatment with pantethine or placebo on fatty acid composition of plasma and platelet phospholipids were investigated in 10 IIa hyperlipoproteinemic patients. A significant decrease of total cholesterol and total phospholipids was observed both in plasma and in platelets after a twenty-eight-day treatment. In plasma, pantethine induced a decrease of the ratio sphingomyelin/phosphatidylcholine. Moreover, a relative increase of n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids both in plasma and in platelet phospholipids and a decrease of arachidonic acid in plasma phospholipids were observed. These results indicate that pantethine can affect plasma and platelet lipid composition with possibly favorable influences on the determinants of cell membrane fluidity.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Blood Platelets; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Fatty Acids; Female; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Male; Middle Aged; Pantetheine; Phosphatidylcholines; Phospholipids; Sphingomyelins; Sulfhydryl Compounds

Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fenofibrate; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Male; Pantetheine; Propionates; Random Allocation; Sulfhydryl Compounds

A one-year clinical trial with pantethine was conducted in 24 patients with established dyslipidemia of Fredrickson's types II A, II B, and IV, alone or associated with diabetes mellitus. The treatment was well tolerated by all patients with no subjective complaints or detectable side effects. Blood lipid assays repeated after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment revealed consistent and statistically significant reductions of all atherogenic lipid fractions (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B) with parallel increases of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A. The results were equally good in patients with uncomplicated dyslipidemia and in those with associated diabetes mellitus. The authors conclude that pantethine (a drug entity related to the natural compound, pantetheine) represents a valid therapeutic support for patients with dyslipidemia not amenable to satisfactory correction of blood lipids by diet alone.

Topics: Cholesterol; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV; Long-Term Care; Male; Middle Aged; Pantetheine; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Triglycerides

Following a brief outline of current knowledge concerning atherosclerosis and its treatment, the authors describe the results obtained by treating with pantethine (900-1200 mg daily for 3 to 6 months) a series of 7 children and 65 adults suffering from hypercholesterolemia alone or associated with hypertriglyceridemia (types IIa and IIb of Fredrickson's classification). Pantethine treatment produced significant reduction of the better known risk factors (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apo-B) and a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol (signally HDL2) and apolipoprotein A-I. The authors conclude with a discussion of these results and of the possible role of pantethine in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia, in view of its perfect tolerability and demonstrated therapeutic effectiveness.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Apolipoprotein A-I; Apolipoproteins A; Apolipoproteins B; Child; Cholesterol; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Lipoproteins; Male; Middle Aged; Pantetheine; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Triglycerides

In a single-blind cross-over study the effect of oral treatment with pantethine on plasma and platelet lipid composition was evaluated in 20 patients with dyslipidaemia (7 IIa, 7 IIb and 6 Iv type). In plasma significant decreases of total cholesterol and triglycerides with increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were observed. In platelets pantethine treatment significantly reduced phospholipid and cholesterol content. In addition gas-chromatographic analysis showed a reduction of saturated and monounsaturated and a relative increase of polyunsaturated fatty acid content of platelet phospholipids. A selective relative increase was observed of some n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid whereas arachidonic acid decreased. The present study indicates a favourable influence of pantethine not only on plasma but also on platelet lipids which could be of value in delaying the development of atherosclerosis in dyslipidaemic patients.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Blood Platelets; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL; Chromatography, Gas; Fatty Acids; Female; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV; Male; Middle Aged; Pantetheine; Phosphatidylcholines; Phosphatidylethanolamines; Phospholipids; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Triglycerides