The treatment of hyperlipoproteinaemia with gemfibrozil compared with placebo and clofibrate.

Abstract

In a single-blind study the lipid-lowering drug gemfibrozil was compared at fixed dosage of 1600 mg daily with placebo and other drugs (mainly clofibrate) over a nine month period in 33 patients with hyperlipidaemia. Two patients were withdrawn from the study because of gastrointestinal symptoms attributable to gemfibrozil. The drug significantly lowered plasma cholesterol and triglycerides compared to the placebo. The drug also significantly lowered plasma cholesterol and triglycerides compared to the placebo. The drug also significantly lowered very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides and raised high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels but a previously significant inverse relationship between VLDL triglyceride and HDL cholesterol on placebo disappeared with gemfibrozil treatment.