The Long-term Effects of Probucol on Serum Lipid Levels

Probucol, a serum cholesterol-lowering agent, was studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for one year in 118 hypercholesterolemic men. The mean decrease in the level of serum cholesterol in the probucol group (N = 88) from baseline for months 6 through 12 ranged from 16.2% to 20.9%. The mean decrease from baseline for the placebo-treated patients (N = 30) ranged from 5.2% to 12.7%. The difference between the groups was highly significant. At the end of this one-year trial, 61 of the probucol-treated patients continued receiving therapy in an open trial for up to seven years. After the second year of probucol treatment, the reduction in serum cholesterol levels ranged from 23.1% to 27.4% and was subsequently maintained. The present report shows that probucol is safe and effective for the long-term lowering of serum cholesterol levels in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia.