[Action of fenofibrate in hypercholesterolemic children. 18-month follow-up]

Twelve children with lla hypercholesterolaemia were given fenofibrate and examined after 6, 12 and 18 months of treatment. Cholesterol levels were measured both in whole plasma and in lipoprotein fractions after precipitation with concanavalin A. Plasma cholesterol and apoprotein B-bound cholesterol were reduced by 20% and 26% respectively (p less than 0.01). A non-significant 10% increase in apoprotein A-bound cholesterol was observed. These changes were effective at 6 months and persisted throughout the study. Fenofibrate was well tolerated and this, together with its effectiveness in lowering lipid values in hypercholesterolaemic children, suggests that it would be useful to achieve primary prevention.