GEMFIBROZIL REDUCES THROMBIN GENERATION IN PATIENTS WITH COMBINED HYPERLIPIDEMIA, WITHOUT INFLUENCING PLASMA-FIBRINOGEN, FIBRIN GEL STRUCTURE OR COAGULATION-FACTOR-VII

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was conducted in 21 men with combined hyperlipoproteinaemia to examine if lipid-lowerin g treatment with gemfibrozil (10-12 weeks) affects blood coagulation a nd fibrin gel structure at rest or during mental stress. Gemfibrozil l owered plasma triglycerides by 57+/-4%, whereas high density lipoprote in (HDL) cholesterol increased by 22+/-5%. Gemfibrozil lowered the tri glyceride content of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Gemfibrozil reduce d the plasma concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and prothrombin fragment F-1+2 (F-1+2), both at rest and during mental st ress. However, there were no effects of gemfibrozil treatment on the p lasma concentrations of fibrinogen, factor VII antigen, activated fact or VII (VIIa) or activated factor XII (XIIa), or on fibrin gel structu re. Acute mental stress per se did not influence coagulation factors, reaction products or fibrin gel structure, or their responses to the s tudy drug. Thus, gemfibrozil reduces thrombin generation in men with c ombined hyperlipoproteinaemia, without influencing the plasma levels o f fibrinogen, VIIa and XIIa, or fibrin gel structure. Attenuation of t hrombin generation may contribute to the primary-preventive effects of gemfibrozil on coronary heart disease.