title: Effects of gemfibrozil (Lopid) on hyperlipidemia in acitretin-treated patients. Results of a double-blind cross-over study.
abstract: Hyperlipidemia is a common side-effect of oral retinoid treatment, which sometimes interferes with long-term therapy. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the lipid-lowering drug gemfibrozil on retinoid-associated hyperlipidemia, we studied the clinical response and the plasma lipoprotein levels in 22 acitretin-treated (0.25-0.75 mg/kg) patients mainly suffering from psoriasis. Gemfibrozil or placebo was given in a double-blind cross-over fashion to 14 patients, who after 8 weeks of acitretin therapy and dietary advice exhibited hyperlipidemia (triglyceride levels > or = 50% above baseline and/or > or = 2.0 mmol/l). Serum triglycerides remained high (3.7 +/- 2.4 mmol/l) during placebo treatment but were reduced after 8 weeks of gemfibrozil treatment (p < 0.01). The total cholesterol level decreased slightly (p < 0.05) during gemfibrozil treatment, but the LDL/HDL ratio did not change significantly. No untoward effects of gemfibrozil on acitretin dose-response and clinical side-effects were noted. Gemfibrozil thus appears useful in patients prone to retinoid-induced hyperlipidemia unresponsive to dietary treatment and acitretin dose reductions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vahlquist
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vahlquist
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D017255:Acitretin; D015248:Gemfibrozil