Plasma Endogenous Triglyceride Transport in Hypertriglyceridaemia and Effect of a Hypolipidaemic Drug (SU‐13437)

Abstract

Abstract. The kinetics of plasma endogenous triglyceride transport were assessed in nine hyperglyceridaemic patients before and after treatment with an effective hypolipidaemic compound of the clofibrate group, phenolic ether Su‐13437. The triglyceride turnover was measured by endogenous 3H‐glycerol labelling technique and the results were compared to those obtained earlier in selected normal subjects. In the untreated stage the plasma triglyceride transport (production) rate was above the normal range in seven of the nine patients but it did not correlate with the triglyceride concentration. On the other hand, the logarithm of the concentration showed a significant inverse correlation with the fractional transport rate. During administration of the drug both the plasma triglyceride concentration and production rate fell in all subjects, the mean decreases being 52 and 35%, respectively. The response of the fractional transport rate to treatment was very variable and although the mean increase of 26% was significant the change did not correspond to the decrease in the triglyceride concentration. On the basis of these observations it is suggested that the primary defect in most cases of type IV endogenous hyperglyceridaemia is an increased inflow transport of plasma triglycerides but the actual plasma triglyceride level is ultimately determined by the inherent type of transport kinetics. The compound Su‐13437 is an effective triglyceride‐concentration‐lowering agent which acts mainly by decreasing the production of plasma triglycerides.