title: Safety and efficacy of long-term combination therapy with bezafibrate and ezetimibe in patients with dyslipidemia in the prospective, observational J-COMPATIBLE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are numerous reports describing the efficacy of fenofibrate in combination with ezetimibe for treating dyslipidemia. In contrast, a study combining bezafibrate and ezetimibe has not yet been conducted. In this study, we examined the safety, including the risk of gallstone formation, and the efficacy of long-term combination therapy with bezafibrate and ezetimibe for treating dyslipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dyslipidemic patients treated with 400 mg/day bezafibrate in combination with 10 mg/day ezetimibe for the first time were eligible. We selected 157 institutions in Japan and conducted a 12-month prospective observational study, with patients enrolled on the day they started combination therapy. Safety of the combination was examined in terms of the type, onset, and severity of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Efficacy was evaluated in terms of the changes in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels from the start of combination therapy (baseline) to the last observation carried forward (LOCF). Lipid levels were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after starting combination therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 665 patients in this observational study. Safety was evaluated in 659, and ADRs occurred in 42 patients (6.4%). The most frequent ADRs were blood creatine phosphokinase increase (1.5%) and myalgia (0.8%). Asymptomatic gallstones were observed in four patients (0.6%). Effectiveness was evaluated in 622 patients. LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, and non-HDL-C levels improved significantly from baseline to LOCF by -17.4%, 8.8%, -40.5%, and -21.6%, respectively (all, p < 0.001). Lipid levels also improved from baseline to each evaluation time-point.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bezafibrate in combination with ezetimibe is safe and effective, and is potentially useful for comprehensive management of dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Teikyo Academic Research Center, Teikyo University, 2-11-1, Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8606, Japan. ttera@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taneyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001384:Azetidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001384:Azetidines; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D001629:Bezafibrate