title: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol elevation with gemfibrozil: effects of baseline level and modifying factors.
abstract: The effects of baseline level and modifying factors on gemfibrozil-induced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol elevation were studied in 1028 participants with good compliance in the Helsinki Heart Study. The absolute (mmol/L) increment in HDL cholesterol was independent of baseline when the change in the placebo group (regression toward the mean) was considered. In contrast, absolute reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides correlated with their baselines, relative percentage changes being constant. Statistically, this could indicate differences in the mode of action of gemfibrozil: an independent and additive effect on HDL cholesterol and a multiplicative effect on LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. These differences may have a physiologic background because the main effect of gemfibrozil is in the stable HDL3 subfraction, rather than in the variable HDL2. Only 13% of the variation in gemfibrozil-induced HDL cholesterol changes were explained by modifying factors. The basic assumptions in the uses of absolute or relative changes as a measure of treatment effect are discussed.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mänttäri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tenkanen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mäenpää
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manninen
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huttunen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D015248:Gemfibrozil