Effects of gemfibrozil on insulin sensitivity and on haemostatic variablesin hypertriglyceridemic patients

In order to assess the efficacy of gemfibrozil on lipid and haemostatic par ameters in patients with plurimetabolic syndrome, a multicenter double-blin d placebo controlled, parallel study was carried out in 56 patients with pr imary hypertriglyceridemia and glucose intolerance. These patients had elev ated PAI activity and antigen and t-PA antigen levels at rest and after ven ous occlusion. Gemfibrozil reduced plasma triglyceride levels (P < 0.001), whereas it increased free fatty acids (P < 0.05) and high density lipoprote in cholesterol levels (P < 0.05). In those patients reaching normalization of plasma triglyceride levels (triglyceride reduction greater than or equal to 50%) (n = 15), insulin levels (P < 0.05) as well as the insulin resista nce index were reduced by gemfibrozil treatment, suggesting an improvement of the insulin resistance index in this patient subgroup. Gemfibrozil treat ment did not affect plasma fibrinolysis or fibrinogen levels, despite marke d reduction of plasma triglycerides and improvement of the insulin sensitiv ity associated with triglyceride normalization. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd. All rights reserved.