Comparison of gemfibrozil and clofibrate on serum lipids in familial combined hyperlipidemia. A randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial.

A randomized double blind, placebo-controlled crossover design was used to determine the efficacy of gemfibrozil and clofibrate in the treatment of familial combined hyperlipidemia and to determine which one of these agents would be more effective. Sixteen patients, 12 men and 4 women, mean age 49.5 years (40-68 yrs), had the entry criteria of increased cholesterol and/or triglyceride with an increase in triglyceride and/or cholesterol in one or more first degree relatives and/or family history of premature cardiovascular disease. Patients received 6 weeks of placebo followed by clofibrate 1000 mg bid or gemfibrozil 600 mg bid for 12 weeks, placebo for 6 weeks and the other drug for 12 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, apo B and apo A-I were measured every 6 weeks during the study. Gemfibrozil was associated with a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in plasma triglyceride concentration compared to placebo but it was not significantly different compared to clofibrate. For ease of comparison, the mean value for serum triglycerides during gemfibrozil treatment (average of the 6 and 12 week measurements) was calculated and was 232 +/- 198 mg/dl (mean +/- 1 SD) compared to the average of the placebo treatment values of 381 +/- 410 mg/dl and the average value during the clofibrate treatment period of 217 +/- 178 mg/dl. HDL-C was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased with both drugs and to the same extent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes