Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by triparanol in rheumatoid arthritis.

Triparanol (/3-L-diethylaminoethoxyphenyl-l-[-ptolyl]-2-p-chlorophenyl)* is an efficient inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis (Blohm and MacKenzie, 1959). It seems to prevent the conversion of 24-dehydrocholesterol (desmotserol) to cholesterol (Avigan, Steinberg, Thompson, and Mosettig, 1960; Frantz, Mobberley, and Schroepfer, 1960). Recently, it has been shown that triparanol, in doses of 1,000 mg. per day, significantly reduces the production of cortisol and aldosterone in healthy subjects and in patients with hyperadrenalism (Melby, St. Cyr, and Dale, 1961). The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of this possible partial inhibition of adrenalsteroid hormone production induced by triparanol in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.