Effect of Cholestyramine on Tissue Pools of Cholesterol a Preliminary Report

Four Type II Hyperlipoproteinemic subjects were investigated before and after treatment with cholestyramine. Plasma cholesterol was significantly reduced (365 plus or minus 23 vs 273 plus or minus 34 mg/100 ml) and triglycerides significantly increased (149 plus or minus 55 vs 181 plus or minus 59 mg/100 ml) on cholestyramine treatment. The daily turnover of cholesterol, as determined by the method of Goodman and Nobel, was nearly doubled by the treatment (0.813 plus or minus 0.11 vs 1.595 plus or minus 0.176 g). Although previous workers have already suggested that cholestyramine does not decrease tissue cholesterol pools, we observed a significant increase in tissue pools in each of the three subjects given cholestyramine alone (10.1 plus or minus 1.4 vs 16.2 plus or minus 6.9 g) for Pool A - EXCLUDING PLASMA; AND 27.2 PLUS OR MINUS 4.6 VS 43.7 PLUS OR MINUS 6.4 G FOR Pool B). Treatment for the fourth subject consisted of a combination of cholestyramine and clofibrate. This combination appeared to prevent increases in the size of Pool B and in the size and production rate of Pool A. These preliminary observations suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of cholestyramine may be enhanced and its effects on tissue cholesterol prevented by giving it in combination with other agents such as clofibrate.