Effect of bezafibrate on lipoprotein (a) and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, including intermediate-density lipoproteins, in patients with chronic renal failure receiving haemodialysis.

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The effect of bezafibrate, at doses of 200 mg three times weekly throughout a period of 10 weeks, on lipoprotein (a) and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins including intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) has been studied in 12 patients with chronic renal failure receiving haemodialysis. No side-effects were observed, and serum creatine phosphate kinase values remained within normal limits throughout the duration of the study. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and apoprotein (apo) B significantly decreased after bezafibrate, whereas apo A-I increased significantly. Serum lipoprotein (a) decreased after bezafibrate, although differences reached no statistical significance. The very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) cholesterol and the VLDL triglycerides decreased from 0.93 +/- 0.45 mmol/l (Mean +/- SD) to 0.54 +/- 0.27 mmol/l (P less than 0.05) and from 1.50 +/- 0.58 mmol/l to 0.91 +/- 0.35 mmol/l (P less than 0.01) respectively. The IDL cholesterol and IDL triglycerides decreased from 0.44 +/- 0.35 mmol/l to 0.20 +/- 0.18 mmol/l (P = NS) and from 0.46 +/- 0.35 mmol/l to 0.17 +/- 0.12 mmol/l (P less than 0.05) respectively. These data, with a substantial improvement of the lipoprotein profile in patients with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis after treatment with bezafibrate, suggest a decrease in the coronary heart disease risk.