Gemfibrozil in hyperlipidaemia: an open, single blind trial.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated blood lipid levels, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Type IIA, IIB, and IV hyperlipidemia are common dyslipidemias requiring effective management.
• Gemfibrozil is a lipid-regulating agent used in managing dyslipidemias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Gemfibrozil in improving lipid profiles of middle-aged subjects with hyperlipidemia.
• To assess the safety and tolerability of Gemfibrozil at a dosage of 1200 mg/day.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 36 middle-aged subjects diagnosed with type IIA, IIB, or IV hyperlipidemia.
• Administration of Gemfibrozil at a daily dose of 1200 mg for 24 weeks.
• Monitoring of lipid parameters including total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, LDL, HDL, apolipoprotein A, and apolipoprotein B.

Main Results:

• Gemfibrozil demonstrated significant reductions in total cholesterol (39.91%), total triglycerides (71.10%), VLDL triglycerides (62.97%), LDL cholesterol (45.57%), and apolipoprotein B (26.83%) at 24 weeks.
• Concurrently, HDL cholesterol increased by 26.23% and apolipoprotein A levels rose by 53.67%.
• The medication was well-tolerated, with no dropouts attributed to its use.

Conclusions:

• Gemfibrozil is an effective agent for lowering adverse lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidemia.
• The drug exhibited a favorable safety profile at the studied dosage.
• Further long-term research is recommended to establish optimal dosage and long-term safety in Indian subjects.