Correlation between plasma levels of fenofibrate and lipoprotein changes in hyperlipidaemic patients

Eleven hyperlipidaemic patients received two formulations of fenofibrate (differing in in vitro dissolution) in randomized sequence, each for 6 weeks. Formulation N, giving a 2-3-fold higher plasma fenofibrate level compared to R, lowered both the cholesterol and triglyceride levels far more than R. Changes in the total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were not significantly correlated with the fenofibrate level. A highly significant correlation was detected for triglycerides in Type IV patients, and for changes both in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in the entire group of patients. In conditions of widely distributed steady state levels of an absorbable hypolipidaemic drug, a significant correlation may thus be detected between the plasma level and the reduction of VLDL - associated lipids.