Abstract
The therapeutic effect of chondroitin polysulphate (CPS) in atherosclerosis was clinically investigated following oral administration to 46 elderly age-matched patients. Half of the patients received CPS in a daily dose of 3 g and the remaining patients received placebo treatment. The treatment period varied between 6 and 64 months. During the study 4 patients died; 3 had been receiving placebo treatment and 1 had been receiving CPS. In a control group of 40 completely untreated elderly patients, matched for age, there were, by comparison, 16 deaths. Serum cholesterol measured in the CPS-treated group, fell to mean values between 10% and 20% lower than the pre-treatment values and serum triglyceride fell, significantly, to mean values 27% lower than those of controls. After 3 months of CPS treatment, mean clotting time was prolonged by 50%. In 1 patient with angina pectoris there was marked electrocardiographic evidence of improvement, with diminution of ST depression. No side-effects attributable to the medication were recorded during the study. The anti-lipaemic and anti-thrombogenic properties of CPS were thus demonstrated in clinical practice.
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