Fibrates are a standard in the treatment impaired lipid metabolism, in particular in combined disorders. The classical Helsinki trial provided evidence of a decreased incidence of IHD in the treated group as compared with the group on placebo. Moreover there is some recent work which proved by statistical methods regression of atherosclerosis after fibrate administration, e.g. the angiographic study BECAIT with bezafibrate. The objective of the present study was to test the effectiveness of bezafibrate (Regadrin B, 200 mg tablets, Berlin-Chemie, FRG) in patients with combined familial hyperlipidaemia. The total cholesterol concentration dropped by 12.7% the LDL-cholesterol concentration by 8.8%. There was a significant drop of triacylglycerols by 37% and a rise of HDL-cholesterol by 24.2%. The apoB concentration declined by 11.3% and apo A-1 increased by 19.6%. The fibrinogen value dropped significantly by 15.2%, the Lp(a) value did not change significantly. The body weight in the two groups did not change significantly. The achieved results resemble those of work published abroad. In the authors opinion it is a positive feature that it proved possible to engage the patients in regular aerobic physical activity. Bezafibrate, Regadrin B was well tolerated by the patients, neither clinical nor laboratory tests revealed significant undesirable effects.

Keywords: Adult; Bezafibrate /therapeutic use/; Female; Fibrinogen /analysis/; Humans; Hyperlipidemia, Familial Combined /blood/; Hypolipidemic Agents /therapeutic use/; Lipids /blood/; Male; Middle Aged