Reduced LDL- and increased HDL-apoproteins in patients with hypercholesterolaemia under treatment with bezafibrate

The effect of bezafibrate on serum lipids, lipoproteins and the apoproteins A-I, A-II and B was studied in 18 patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia. Total cholesterol was lowered by 20% (P less than 0.05), LDL-cholesterol by 24% (P less than 0.05), and apo B by 14% (P less than 0.05), which is comparable to the effect obtained with anion exchange resins but with far fewer side-effects. HDL increased significantly during bezafibrate treatment both by measurement of HDL-cholesterol (+54%, P less than 0.05) and by the determination of HDL-apoproteins A-I (+ 19%, P less than 0.05) and A-II (+ 23%, P less than 0.05). This increase of HDL and the decrease of triglycerides was maintained for 6 weeks of placebo treatment after cessation of bezafibrate, while serum total and LDL cholesterol as well as apo B returned to their baseline levels.