[The combinations of statins and fibrates: pharmacokinetic and clinical implications]

With mixed dyslipidemia of the atherogenic dyslipidemia type, once the LDL-c objectives have been achieved through statin treatment, there is often a residual risk, for which the addition of a fibrate is recommended. The combination of statins and fibrates has been limited by the possibility of drug interactions, which mostly result in myopathy. Interactions between statins and other drugs are caused by pharmacokinetic mechanisms, mainly by changing the metabolism of statins in the CYP450 enzyme system, in the hepatic glucuronidation pathway or in the transporters responsible for statin distribution in tissues. The most significant adverse eff ect of statins is myopathy, which can also be induced by fibrates and is more frequent when the 2 drugs (statins and fibrates) are combined. This adverse eff ect manifests clinically as myalgia, muscle weakness, increased CK levels and, in its most severe form, rhabdomyolysis. This interaction mainly aff ects gemfibrozil due to its specific action on the CYP450 enzyme system and that interferes with the hepatic glucuronidation of statins by using the same isoenzymes and with organic anion transporters in the liver. When combining statins, we should use other fibric acid derivatives, preferably fenofibrate.