[Gemfibrozil in the elderly. Effects on lipid metabolism].
METHODS
Twenty patients with mixed hyperlipidemia type IIb were treated for two weeks with the lipid lowering agent gemfibrozil at a dose of 900 mg/day. The mean age of the 10 younger ambulatory patients was 32.3 +/- 4.1 years, that of the 10 geriatric inpatients 76.9 +/- 7.1 years. Fasting blood samples were drawn from the patients on days 1, 7 and 14, and plasma lipids and apolipoproteins determined. In addition, the plasma phospholipids were isolated and the fatty acid composition determined by gas chromatography.


RESULTS
After only two weeks treatment with gemfibrozil, triglyceride and phospholipid plasma levels were significantly decreased. The therapeutic effects were more pronounced in the elderly patients, mainly female and most with diabetes mellitus, than in the younger, predominantly male hyperlipidemic patients. In accordance with the mechanism of action of gemfibrozil, the initially pathologically elevated levels of plasma free fatty acids in the geriatrics returned to normal. Furthermore, the fraction of long chain saturated fatty acids among the phospholipids became smaller, suggesting an impairment of chain elongation of fatty acids in the hepatic microsomes.
Brosche
T
T
Lehrstuhl Innere Medizin-Gerontologie, Institut für Gerontologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Kipfmüller
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D015248:Gemfibrozil
Gemfibrozil im Alter. Wirkungen auf den Fettsäurenstoffwechsel.