Bezafibrate and lovastatin decrease the oxidizability of low-density lipoproteins in heart transplant recipients with hyperlidemia

Background: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the effect of two lipid-lower ing drugs, bezafibrate and lovastatin, on the susceptibility of low-density lipoproteins for oxidation in vitro in 21 heart transplant recipients with hyperlipidemia. Methods: Patients were given the same diet for 3 months, and after that the y were randomized to lovastatin or bezafibrate for a period of 8 weeks and then crossed over to an additional 8 weeks of either bezafibrate or lovasta tin. Baseline parameters were also compared with those of a control group o f healthy subjects and after both periods of pharmacologic treatment. Results: The low-density lipoproteins of transplant recipients presents a s horter lag time than in central subjects (64 +/- 3 vs 80 +/- 4 minutes, res pectively). This parameter increases after both bezafibrate and lovastatin treatment (83 +/- 5 and 80 +/- 4 minutes, respectively). Moreover, we did o bserve a negative correlation between insulinemia and the lag time of oxida tion after bezafibrate treatment (r = -0.5014, P <.021) and between the pol yunsaturated fatty acids/monounsaturated fatty acids ratio in low-density l ipoprotein cholesterol esters and lag time after lovastatin treatment (r = -0.4631, P <.04). Conclusions: Bezafibrate and lovastatin decrease the oxidizability of low-d ensity lipoproteins in heart transplant recipients with hyperlipemia.