[A comparison of bezafibrate and lovastatin treatment at the usual doses in post-heart transplant hyperlipemia].
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery disease is a major limiting factor for long-term survival after heart transplantation. Hyperlipidemia is a probable risk factor for coronary artery disease in this kind of patient. Bezafibrate and lovastatin have proved to be effective in lowering total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The present study tested the safety and efficacy of both drugs on lipid levels in 21 patients with post-heart transplantation hyperlipidemia.


METHODS
Patients maintained the same diet for three months. Then, they were randomized to lovastatin (20 mg/day) or bezafibrate (400 mg/day) for 8 weeks, and then, crossovered to an additional 8 weeks of bezafibrate or lovastatin.


RESULTS
Both drugs were effective in lowering total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoprotein B concentrations, but the effect of lovastatin was significantly greater. Only bezafibrate produced a significant reduction in total triglycerides and a significant rise in high density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoprotein AI. The total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were decreased under both treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Both drugs, bezafibrate and lovastatin appear to be safe, effective and well-tolerated therapies for hyperlipidemia in cardiac transplant recipients.
Zambrana García
J L
JL
Unidad de Lípidos y Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba.
López Miranda
J
J
Anguita Sánchez
M
M
Blanco Cerrada
J
J
Vallés Belsúe
F
F
Casares Mediavilla
J
J
Muñoz Carvajal
I
I
Jiménez Perepérez
J A
JA
Pérez Jiménez
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008148:Lovastatin; D001629:Bezafibrate