title: Effects of treatment of hypertriglyceridaemia with gemfibrozil on serum lipoproteins and the transfer of cholesteryl ester from high density lipoproteins to low density lipoproteins.
abstract: Lipoprotein composition and cholesterol esterification, before and after treatment with gemfibrozil, have been examined in the fasting and postprandial state in nine patients with primary hypertriglyceridaemia who participated in a double-blind, placebo controlled study. After 8 weeks of treatment fasting serum triglycerides were reduced significantly from 6.05 mmol/l (range 2.48-10.99 mmol/l) to 1.76 mmol/l (range 1.16-11.90 mmol/l) (P less than 0.001). This was mainly due to a decrease in the triglyceride content of the Sf 12-20, 60-400 and Sf greater than 400 lipoprotein fractions (P less than 0.05). The Sf 0-12 fraction showed an increase in cholesteryl ester, free cholesterol, phospholipids and protein. Consistent with these findings there was a net increase in the mass concentration of the Sf 0-12 fraction (P less than 0.05) and a decrease in that of small very low density lipoproteins (Sf 20-60) (P less than 0.05). In the 8 patients in whom it was measured there was a 40% reduction in the rate at which cholesteryl esters derived from radiolabelled-free cholesterol appeared in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) measured in an in vitro system (P less than 0.02), but serum lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity was unchanged. At the end of each treatment phase (placebo or gemfibrozil) patients were given a mixed meal containing 100 g of fat. Treatment with gemfibrozil resulted in a reduction in serum triglyceride concentrations at all time points for at least 5 h after the meal (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, U.K.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Durrington
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Mackness
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arrol
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Winocour
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006953:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D015248:Gemfibrozil