Serum uric acid levels: a useful but not absolute marker of compliance with fenofibrate treatment.

The purpose of our study was to investigate whether measurement of serum uric acid levels is a reliable method to assess adherence to fenofibrate treatment. This was a 21 week, open-label study conducted in our lipid clinic. After an 8 week dietary baseline phase, we implemented a treatment phase, during which patients received 200 mg/day micronized fenofibrate for 3 months. Serum lipid profiles, including levels of lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen, serum uric acid, as well as muscle and liver enzymes, were measured after the dietary phase, and at the end of the 3 month treatment period. Compliance was assessed using a clinical interview. A significant decrease in serum uric acid levels was observed in the compliant, while no significant change was noticed in the non-compliant. The compliant had lower serum uric acid concentrations compared to the non-compliant (P < 0.01) after fenofibrate treatment. Furthermore, they demonstrated lower levels of triglycerides and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.05 for both parameters). The results show that serum uric acid concentrations may be used as a useful tool to assess compliance with fenofibrate therapy.