Bezafibrate and lovastatin decrease the oxidizability of low-density lipoproteins in heart transplant recipients with hyperlidemia.
BACKGROUND
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the effect of two lipid-lowering drugs, bezafibrate and lovastatin, on the susceptibility of low-density lipoproteins for oxidation in vitro in 21 heart transplant recipients with hyperlipidemia.


METHODS
Patients were given the same diet for 3 months, and after that they were randomized to lovastatin or bezafibrate for a period of 8 weeks and then crossed over to an additional 8 weeks of either bezafibrate or lovastatin. Baseline parameters were also compared with those of a control group of healthy subjects and after both periods of pharmacologic treatment.


RESULTS
The low-density lipoproteins of transplant recipients presents a shorter lag time than in control subjects (64+/-3 vs 80+/-4 minutes, respectively). This parameter increases after both bezafibrate and lovastatin treatment (83+/-5 and 80+/-4 minutes, respectively). Moreover, we did observe a negative correlation between insulinemia and the lag time of oxidation after bezafibrate treatment (r = -0.5014, P < .021) and between the polyunsaturated fatty acids/monounsaturated fatty acids ratio in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol esters and lag time after lovastatin treatment (r = -0.4631, P < .04).


CONCLUSIONS
Bezafibrate and lovastatin decrease the oxidizability of low-density lipoproteins in heart transplant recipients with hyperlipemia.
Zambrana
J L
JL
Unidad de Lípidos y Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
López-Miranda
J
J
Blanco
A
A
Arizón
J M
JM
Jansen
S
S
Paniagua
J A
JA
Jimenéz-Perepérez
J A
JA
Concha
M
M
Pérez-Jiménez
F
F
D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D008148:Lovastatin; D001629:Bezafibrate