[Treatment of hypercholesterolemia with beta-pyridylcarbinol. Experiences after long term treatment over 8 years (author's transl)].

78 patients with hypercholesterolemia were treated with beta-pyridylcarbinol from 1964 to 1966. In 1972 42 patients could be contacted again, 37 of them were reexamined. 14 of these 42 patients were still taking beta-pyridylcarbinol in 1972. Those who had taken more than 0.9 gm per day had a lower serum cholesterol level than in the beginning of the treatment in 1964. Clinical signs of atherosclerosis (angina pectoris and peripheral arterial disease) were significantly less in this group of patients. Besides a few flush reactions or heartburn no side effects to treatment were noted. The two groups of patients, with whom the 14 were compared, included 9 who had been taking clofibrate since 1966 and 19 patients without drug treatment for hypercholesterolemia. Both groups had higher serum cholesterol levels than the group of 14 with beta-pyridylcarbinol treatment over 8 years.