title: Summarizing the FIELD study: lessons from a 'negative' trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disturbances in lipid metabolism represent an integral component of dysglycemic states and may increase the risk of diabetic complications. Although from a pathophysiological viewpoint fibrates could represent the ideal drug for patients with diabetic dyslipidemia the evidence that support their use in these patients remains elusive. The Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that randomized 9795 diabetic subjects to fenofibrate or matching placebo for an average of 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, all the findings of the FIELD trial are summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic kidney disease (reduced GFR, albuminuria or both) and the presence of metabolic syndrome significantly increase the cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes. Fenofibrate may represent a useful therapeutic option for the treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia in diabetic subjects. Further attention should be paid on the unique microvascular-protecting properties of the drug.
authors.affiliation: University of Ioannina Medical School , 45 110 Ioannina , Greece +302651007362 ; +302651007016 ; vtsimi@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsimihodimos
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elisaf
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D011345:Fenofibrate