Bambuterol raises high‐density lipoprotein levels in patients with hyperlipidaemia

• Published in: Journal of internal medicine Vol. 242; no. 2; pp. 167 - 171
• Main Authors: FLORÉN, C. H., KJELLSTRÖM, T., BAUER, C. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.08.1997; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Adult; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchodilator Agents - therapeutic use; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; high‐density lipoproteins β2‐agonist; Humans; Hyperlipidemias - blood; Hyperlipidemias - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prodrugs - therapeutic use; Respiratory system; Terbutaline - analogs & derivatives; Terbutaline - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Human; Agonist; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Bambuterol; Cholesterol HDL; Bronchodilator; Metabolic diseases; Lipids; Hyperlipemia; Dyslipemia; β-Adrenergic receptor
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.1997.00180.x
• ISSN: 0954-6820

. Florén CH, Kjellström T, Bauer CA (Department of Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden and Astra Draco AB, Lund, Sweden). Bambuterol raises high‐density lipoprotein levels in patients with hyperlipidaemia. J Intern Med 1997; 242: 167–71. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of bambuterol (a prodrug of the β2‐agonist terbutaline) on lipid and lipoprotein levels in patients with hyperlipidaemia. Both these drugs are extensively used in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma. Earlier studies in healthy volunteers and in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus have shown that terbutaline and bambuterol increase HDL cholesterol levels, and therefore bambuterol might have beneficial effects on HDL levels in patients with hyperlipidaemia. Design The present study was a randomized, double‐blind, crossover study, comparing 20 mg of bambuterol with placebo, each one given for 6‐8 weeks with a 3‐4 week washout period in between. Setting The study was performed in an out‐patient lipid clinic at Malmö University Hospital. Subjects Thirty‐one patients with hyperlipidaemia (S‐cholesterol >6.5 mmol L−1 and S‐triglycerides >2.0 mmol L−1) were included. Main outcome measurements and results The results showed that bambuterol increased S‐HDL cholesterol levels by 7% (P= 0.012). Increases were 23% for P‐HDL2 and 7% for P‐HDL3 fractions, but no effect was apparent on S‐apolipoprotein A‐1 levels. Conclusion This study suggests that the β2‐agonist bambuterol might be used as an alternative or as a complement in the treatment of dyslipidemic patients, when an increase in HDL cholesterol is desired.