The hypolipidemic effects of gemfibrozil in type V hyperlipidemia. A double-blind, crossover study.
Thirteen patients with phenotypic type V hyperlipidemia were treated with either gemfibrozil (Lopid) or a placebo in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study for two 8-week periods. A 4-week baseline period of a low-fat diet preceded the study and served as a dietary control period. A 4-week washout period followed the two 8-week periods. Compared with the placebo phase, gemfibrozil produced a significant reduction in the concentrations of total plasma triglycerides (21.03 vs 5.50 mmol/L) and very low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (14.40 vs 4.59 mmol/L) as well as in total plasma cholesterol levels (10.88 vs 5.62 mmol/L) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (6.66 vs 2.15 mmol/L). Chylomicronemia was virtually abolished by the drug treatment. As expected in treated patients with type V hyperlipidemia, concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol rose after therapy with gemfibrozil (3.08 mmol/L) as compared with placebo (1.84 mmol/L); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol also increased (0.85 mmol/L after therapy with gemfibrozil, 0.62 mmol/L after placebo). The previously very low values for both of these lipoproteins increased at the same time that the total plasma cholesterol value decreased. We conclude that gemfibrozil is a well-tolerated and effective hypolipidemic agent for the treatment of patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia when used in conjunction with a low-fat diet.
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Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
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Illingworth
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006954:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type V / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011897:Random Allocation; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D015248:Gemfibrozil