title: Effect of bezafibrate therapy on atherosclerotic aortic plaques detected by MRI in dyslipidemic patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
abstract: Fibrates reduce triglycerides (TG) and increase HDL-cholesterol levels, but there was no report showing plaque regression by fibrates. Using MRI, we investigated the effects of bezafibrate on aortic plaques in 22 dyslipidemic patients. All patients were asked to receive 400mg bezafibrate, but 8 who declined to have bezafibrate became the control group. Changes in vessel wall area (VWA) and lumen area (LA) from baseline to 1-year were evaluated. Bezafibrate reduced TG (-55%) and increased HDL-cholesterol levels (+29%). Bezafibrate reduced HDL size and increased LDL size. In thoracic plaques, bezafibrate reduced VWA (-6%, P<0.001) with no LA change, but VWA slightly progressed without bezafibrate (+5%). In abdominal plaques, bezafibrate reduced VWA (-8%, P<0.001) with LA increase (+3%, P<0.02), but VWA progressed without bezafibrate (+6%). VWA changes in thoracic and abdominal plaques correlated with TG reduction and HDL-cholesterol increase. Notably, VWA change in only abdominal plaques correlated with HDL size reduction and LDL size increase. Thus, bezafibrate induced plaque regression in thoracic and abdominal aortas with marked TG reduction and HDL-cholesterol increase, but the processes of plaque regression and vascular remodeling may differ between thoracic and abdominal aortas. However, because our study was not a controlled, randomized trial, further study is needed.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayaori
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: ymomiyamajp@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Momiyama
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Zahi A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Fayad
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yonemura
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohmori
authors.affiliation: Iruma Heart Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobukiyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatsune
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shojiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusuhara
authors.affiliation: Iruma Heart Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohsuzu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D001629:Bezafibrate