It has been known that anion exchange resin and nicotinic acid effectively reduced plasma cholesterol and concomitantly decreased the events of coronary heart disease. This drug regimen was subsequently found to inhibit the progression of coronary atherosclerotic lesions.
Substantial reduction of total cholesterol or low denstty lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is primarily required to obtain the regressive alterations of coronary narrowings. However, in spite of the satisfactory reduction of LDL, some patients still develop the progression of the stenosis. The comparison of other variables of plasma lipids in the patients with or without progressive changes, indicates that the decrease in triglyceride and increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol are necessary in order to maintain the non-progressive changes.
