Effect of fibric acid derivatives on blood lipid and lipoprotein levels.

The literature for the last seven years was reviewed in terms of the effect of the various fibric acid derivatives on blood lipid and lipoprotein levels. The criteria for review resulted in a greater focus on three of the newer fibric acid derivatives: bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, fenofibrate. In type II A hyperlipoproteinemia, all fibric acid derivatives produce modest reductions in total plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The evidence suggests that bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, and fenofibrate may produce greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than those usually observed with clofibrate and gemfibrozil. All fibric acid derivatives produce modest reductions in triglycerides and modest increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in type II A hyperlipoproteinemia. In type II B hyperlipoproteinemia, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering effect of fibric acid derivatives is generally less than that observed in type II A hyperlipoproteinemia. In type II B hyperlipoproteinemia, there is a mean decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for all patients studied. However, there is a considerable interpatient variation ranging from significant decreases to significant increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Further studies are required to assess whether the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering effect is greater with the newer fibric acid derivatives. All fibric acid derivatives produce clinically significant decreases in triglyceride levels in type II B. There is also an associated increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In type IV hyperlipoproteinemia, all fibric acid derivatives produce clinically significant reductions in triglyceride. There is also an associated increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and generally also an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The available data do not suggest a clinically significant difference in the hypotriglyceridemic effect of the various fibric acid derivatives in type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. The lipid-altering effects of the various fibric acid derivatives were usually less in those studies that contained placebo and dietary controls. Additional controlled clinical trials are needed to accurately discriminate the relative lipid-and lipoprotein-altering effects of the various fibric acid derivatives.