Effects of trapidil on lipoprotein abnormalities in survivors of cerebral infarction (CI) were studied. A 300mg daily dose of trapidil was administered orally to 1.0 inpatients and 19 out-patients with CT for 3 months.
Before and after the administration of trapidil, plasma concentrations of cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and cholesterol in HDL subfractions (HDL₂-C and HDL₃-C) were measured in both patient groups, and the concentrations of apolipoproteins (Apo A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, E) were measured in outpatients.
TC and TG concentrations were determined by enzymatic methods, HDL-C by the heparin-Ca⁺⁺ precipitation method, and HDL₂-C and HDL₃-C by the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method. Apolipoproteins were determined by a single radial immunodiffusion method.
TC and TG concentrations were unchanged in both groups. HDL-C increased significantly in inpatients, and tended to increase in outpatients. With regard to the HDL subfractions, the HDL₂-C concentration increased significantly, whereas the HDL₃-C concentration increased slightly in inpatients and remained virtually unchanged in outpatients. Apo A-I concentration tended to increase, whereas apo B concentration decreased significantly. As a result, the ratio of apo B to apo A-I decreased significantly.
These results suggest that trapidil is beneficial in the treatment of lipoprotein abnormalities in patients with cerebral infarction.