Hypolipidemic effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone in man.

Intravenous infusion of 500 ml of 6% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, average molecular weight 40,000) in isotonic saline solution daily for 2 days induced prompt and significant reductions in serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in eight hyperlipidemic patients. Mean maximal decrements in serum cholesterol and triglyceride were 29% and 28% below control values, respectively, occurring 5 days after infusion of PVP. Mean values for hematocrit and total serum protein concentration were slightly decreased following PVP infusion, but there were no changes in percentage composition of serum proteins, blood sugar, serum sodium and potassium, body weight, and blood pressure. The hypolipidemic effect of PVP persisted beyond the period of plasma volume expansion, as demonstrated by measurement of the plasma volume isotopically and by long-term follow-up in five of the patients.