DUAL BEZAFIBRATE SIMVASTATIN THERAPY FOR COMBINED HYPERLIPIDEMIA

Statins and fibrates are both effective in the treatment of hyperlipid aemias but are not recommended in combination because episodes of rhab domyolysis have followed combined lovastatin-gemfibrozil therapy. We a ssessed treatment with dual bezafobrate-simvastatin therapy in routine clinical practice. In 22 patients, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides fell by 20.1% (P<0.0001), 35.1% (P<0.001) and 31% ( P<0.05) respectively, and HDL-cholesterol rose by 18.4% (P<0.05) on co mbination therapy. The reduction in cholesterol followed the introduct ion of simvastatin, while the decrease in triglycerides followed treat ment with bezafibrate. No patient developed myopathy. We conclude that dual simvastatin-bezafibrate therapy is well tolerated and may reduce triglyceride concentrations, but offers no advantage in cholesterol r eduction over treatment with simvastatin alone.