title: [Comparison about the efficacy and tolerability between simvastatin and bezafibrate in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia].
abstract: Simvastatin and bezafibrate actions on blood lipids and their side effects were compared in a double-blind trial involving 24 adults with severe type IIa or IIb primary hypercholesterolemia (mean plasma cholesterol = 4.35 g/l). During a 12-week period, the patients received either bezafibrate, 600 mg 3 times a day, or simvastatin, 10 or 20 mg once a day, with a doubling of the dosage at week 6 if the LDL-cholesterol level remained above 1.40 g/l. Simvastatin significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol by -39.5% (p less than 0.001), total cholesterol by 33.9% (p less than 0.005) and apoprotein B by -28% (p less than 0.001). Bezafibrate significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol (-19.8%, p less than 0.001) and total cholesterol (-17.5%, p less than 0.002), but not apoprotein B. Bezafibrate also reduced triglycerides by -26.6% and raised HDL-cholesterol by +27.6%. Simvastatin was more effective than bezafibrate in lowering LDL-cholesterol (p less than 0.002), total cholesterol (p less than 0.005) and apoprotein B (p less than 0.05). Tolerance of both drugs was considered excellent.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Exploration Métabolique pour la Prévention des Maladies Cardio-vasculaires, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruckert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Truffert
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: De Gennes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D001629:Bezafibrate
vernacular_title: Comparaison de l'efficacité et de la tolérance de la simvastatine et du bézafibrate dans le traitement des hypercholestérolémies.