Fenofibrate of gemfibrozil for treatment of types IIa and IIb primary hyperlipoproteinemia: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study.

Objective: To compare the hypolipidemic effects of gemfibrozil and micronized fenofibrate in patients with primary hyperlipoproteinemia, phenotypes IIa and IIb, with emphasis on their cholesterol-lowering effectiveness.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover study was performed to assess the effects of gemfibrozil (900 mg) and micronized fenofibrate (200 mg), administered once daily, to 21 patients (45 to 70 years old)-16 with type IIa and 5 with type IIb primary hyperlipidemia. The two treatment periods lasted 6 weeks each; the run-in and washout periods were 4 weeks.