Abstract
HDL-cholesterol, HDL-phospholipids and their ratio (HDL-cholesterol/HDL-phospholipids) were determined in 55 patients with atherosclerosis before and after administration of pantethine. (600mg/day)
Five from above 55 patients whose HDL-cholesterol had increased predominantly in the above trial were once again given pantethine in the same dose for additional 1-2 months after a month withdrowal of medication. HDL2 and HDL3 were separated according to the simple procedure with the combination of lipoprotein precipitation in NaPhT-MgCl2 and ultracentrifugation. Phospholipids of HDL from five cases were separated on the silica gel G thin layer chromatograph.
Results were as follows,
HDL-cholesterol, HDL-triglycerides and their ratio were increased 3, 6 and 12 months after administration of pantethine. Lecithin was the major phospholipid which increased in HDL fraction of patients treated with pantethine. Subfraction of HDL revealed a high increase of HDL2 and its constituents, that is, cholesterol, phospholipids and alpha-1-lipoprotein.
These results led us to the conclusion that pantethine may be useful for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
