Comparative evaluation of the effects of ciprofibrate and fenofibrate on lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins A and B.

In a double-blind study over a 3-month period, a daily dose of 100 mg ciprofibrate, prescribed in a single administration and a daily dose of 300 mg fenofibrate, prescribed in 3 administrations, significantly reduced the mean values of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol, apoprotein B (P less than 0.001) and increased the mean values of HDL cholesterol (P less than 0.01) and total apoprotein A (P less than 0.05). The study, followed-up as an open trial using higher doses (100 or 200 mg/day ciprofibrate, 400 mg/day fenofibrate) tried to demonstrate clearly the benefit of therapy after 9 months with the 2 drugs and to establish the dose-response effects. Comparison of the 2 drugs at the optimal dosages, after 9 months of treatment, showed ciprofibrate to be more effective in increasing HDL cholesterol (P less than 0.05) and apo A (P less than 0.001). No other significant differences in terms of either therapeutic efficacy or biological tolerance became apparent between the 2 drugs. The results obtained in this comparative study were in accordance to those observed in separate trials for ciprofibrate or fenofibrate. Ciprofibrate has the benefit of a long half-life and may also be administered in the form of a single daily dose to patients suffering from major type II hyperlipoproteinaemia.