Hypolipidemic, uricosuric, and thyroxine‐displacing effects of MK‐185 (halofenate)

Abstract

MK‐185, an ester structurally related to clofibrate, was given to hypertriglyceridemic patients for 6 week periods in a controlled double‐blind crossover trial. Serum triglycerides decreased an average of 50 per cent during the trial, but little change was noted in serum cholesterol. An average decrease of 30 per cent was noted in the serum uric acid, and 5 patients showed a uricosuric effect of the drug independent of the glomerular filtration rate. Plasma thyroxine (T 4 ) showed a significant increase while patients were taking MK‐185. Further studies showed a decrease in protein‐bound iodine and T 4 by column. An increase in the dialyzable fraction of T, in vivo suggested a thyroxine‐displacing effect from thyroid‐binding proteins. This hypothesis was confirmed by in vitro displacement by MK‐185 free acid of 131 I‐labeled T 4 bound to thyrOid‐binding globulin.