Claims for Patent: 4,459,310

Summary for Patent: 4,459,310

Title:	Method for cholesterol lowering
Abstract:	This invention encompasses a new use for 16-loweralkyl-16-hydroxy prostaglandins such as misoprostol. This class of prostaglandin has been found useful in lowering cholesterol blood levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Inventor(s):	Dajani; Esam Z. (Long Grove, IL)
Assignee:	G.D. Searle & Co. (Skokie, IL)
Application Number:	06/508,373
Patent Claims:	1. A method for lowering elevated cholesterol levels in humans comprising administering to a human having elevated cholesterol an effective cholesterol lowering amount of a prostaglandin of the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1, is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen or loweralkanoyl, R.sub.4 is lower alkyl, and x is --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.dbd.CH--. 2. A method according to claim 1 for lowering elevated cholesterol levels in humans comprising administering to a human having elevated cholesterol an effective cholesterol lowering amount of a prostaglandin of the formula ##STR6## 3. A method according to claim 1 for lowering elevated cholesterol levels in humans comprising administering to a human having elevated cholesterol an effective cholesterol lowering amount of misoprostol.