Treatment of Dyslipidemia with Gemfibrozii A Pilot Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Material and Methods:
Cases were selected from patients referred to the Investigator from the Outpatient Department of the NICVD Karachi during the study period. These patients had a lipid profile done and found to have dyslipidemia.

All values are expressed as mean with a single standard deviation. Chi Square analysis and Student T test are used for group comparison. Statistically significant means a p value < 0.05.

RESULTS:

Of the subject referred to the Investigator, there were 65 male subjects who did not have any exclusion criteria. On re-testing the lipid profile of these 65, 26 subjects were found to have fasting total cholesterol > 270 mg% and! or Triglycerides > 200mg%. 16 of these 26 subjects were randomized to 8 weeks of drug treatment and 10 subjects to placebo treatment. 8 subjects in the drug treatment group and 8 subjects in the placebo treatment group complete d the entire protocol.Of the 65 male subjects initially referred to the Investigator, only 26 were found to fulfill all the recruitment criteria, and, 16 were random ized to the drug treatment group and 10 to the placebo group.

DISCUSION:

In the last few years a significant change has occurred in our thinking as to the definition of what consititures a ‘normal’ lipid profile and presently it is generally stated that the ideal total cholesterol value ought to be below 200mg%, LDL-Cholesterol below 160 mg% and that the HDL-Cholesterol to be 20% or more of the total cholesterol value (10,11).The greater was the lipid normalizing effect of Gemfibrozil, thereby reducing coronary risk in these dyslipdemic Pakistani subjects.