[Comparison between lovastatin and gemfibrozil in treatment of primary hyperlipidemias].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of lovastatin and gemfibrozil in patients with primary hyperlipidemias.


METHODS
Forty patients with cholesterolemia over 200 mg/dl and triglyceridemia not higher than 350 mg/dl, excluded secondary causes, were selected. Twenty patients received lovastatin and 20 gemfibrozil. In order to establish the lipid profile, blood samples were taken after 2 months without medication, after 4 weeks of diet and placebo and after 6 and 12 weeks of active treatment. Biochemical profile was determined before and after the treatment with active drug.


RESULTS
Thirty nine patients completed the study. Total and LDL-cholesterol were significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) by both drugs but lovastatin had greater effect. Only gemfibrozil reduced triglycerides significantly. Neither drug had significant effects on HDL-cholesterol. The tolerance was satisfactory; only one patient (using gemfibrozil) needed to stop the treatment due to gastrointestinal side effects. The biochemical profile did not present any significant alteration.


CONCLUSIONS
Both drugs produced useful effects on the lipid profile. Lovastatin produced greater reductions of total and LDL-cholesterol, while gemfibrozil was more active reducing triglycerides. Neither drug changed significantly the HDL-cholesterol.
Bertolami
M C
MC
Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo.
Martinez
T L
TL
Faludi
A A
AA
Pinto
L E
LE
Melo
R S
RS
Bismarck
Z F
ZF
Batlouni
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D015248:Gemfibrozil
Comparação entre a lovastatina e o gemfibrozil no tratamento de hiperlipidemias primárias.