[Probucol treatment of hyperlipidemia].

Probucol lowers total and LDL cholesterol levels, and also lowers HDL cholesterol levels. Probucol is able to lower cholesterol levels in homozygous patients with familial hypercholesterolemia as well as in heterozygous patients. In heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, probucol lowered total cholesterol levels by 22%, LDL-cholesterol levels by 17%, and HDL-cholesterol levels by 40%, respectively. The lowering HDL cholesterol levels by probucol may reflect increased reverse cholesterol transport. Probucol increases cholesteryl ester transfer protein concentration, and diminishes HDL particle size. Probucol has been reported to retard and even regress atherosclerosis in animal models and to diminish tendinous xanthomas in man. Its lowering LDL-cholesterol levels, activation of reverse cholesterol transport process, and antioxidant effects may cause an antiatherogenic action.