Comparative study of gemfibrozil versus pravastatin in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease and low HDL cholesterol levels
Santos, R.D.; Mansur, A.P.; Safi Júnior, J.; Giraldez, R.R.; Maranhão, R.C.; Pileggi, F.; Ramires, J.A.
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia 65(2): 181-183
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0066-782X PMID: 8554498 Document Number: 447854
To evaluate the effects of gemfibrozil and pravastatin in coronary artery disease patients with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) < 35 mg/dl). Twenty-nine patients (20 males, 60 +/- 9) were divided in a gemfibrozil group (G) (1200 mg/day n = 15) and a pravastatin group (P) (10 or 20 mg n = 10 and 4, respectively). The plasma lipid profile (LP) e.g. total cholesterol (TC), fractions and triglycerides (TG) was determined at 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. HDL-C was not affected in P, TC and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions were superior to those in G (31.3% vs 13.4% and 38.7 and 11.5%, p < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively). In G HDL-C raised by 50% (12th week p < 0.01). Gemfibrozil reduced TG levels in 44.7% while in P it varied -32.2% (12th week p < 0.01 and < 0.05 respectively). Gemfibrozil is more effective in reducing TG and raising HDL-C than pravastatin. On the other hand, pravastatin was more potent in reducing LDL-C levels.