Ninety patients with ischemic heart disease and mild or moderate hypercholesterolemia were included in a multicenter study of efficacy and safety of a preparation of lovastatin (Holetar, KRKA). After 6 weeks of a diet period 46 patients remained on diet and in 44 patients lovastatin was added to diet for 12 weeks. All patients received 20 mg/day for 6 weeks. If after 6 weeks on lovastatin target level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL CH, 3.0 mmol/l) was not achieved the dose was doubled. Target LDL CH level was achieved in 47% and 58% of patients by the end of 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The 20 mg dose lowered levels of LDLCH by 27% and of triglycerides by 10%. The drug was well tolerated.