[Duolip Forte--experience during a 6-month period of administration]

Duolip forte (ethophylline clofibrate, tablets à 500 mg) produced by Merckle Austria was administered to 20 patients with different types of hyperlipoproteinaemia for a 6-month period in amounts of 500 mg/day. Before onset of treatment and during treatment the patients adhered to a defined hypolipidaemic diet. The total cholesterol level during administration increased from 7.71 +/- 1.71 mmol/l to 8.23 +/- 1.34 mmol/l (p = 0.05). The LDL cholesterol level rose from 4.93 +/- 1.70 mmol/l to 5.53 +/- 1.34 mmol/l (n.s.). Apolipoprotein B declined from 1.99 +/- 0.39 g/l to 1.80 +/- 0.30 g/l (n.s.). HDL cholesterol rose from 1.09 +/- 0.32 mmol/l to 1.53 +/- 0.56 mmol/l (p = 0.01). The triglyceride level declined from 5.71 +/- 5.60 mmol/1 to 3.72 +/- 4.32 mmol/1 (n.s.). The lipid metabolism parameters were evaluated already after three months of Duolip treatment but the values did not differ significantly from values assessed after 6 months of administration; therefore only the final values are given. In the course of six months of Duolip administration the body weight of the patients did not change and no serious side-effects were observed which would call for discontinuation of treatment. Duolip forte is evaluated as a safe, but as compared with other available drugs of the clofibrate series, less effective hypolipidaemic agent.