Korean Circ J.  2012 Nov;42(11):741-746. 10.4070/kcj.2012.42.11.741.

Fenofibrate Reduces C-Reactive Protein Levels in Hypertriglyceridemic Patients With High Risks for Cardiovascular Diseases

• Min YJ
• Choi YH
• Hyeon CW
• Cho JH
• Kim KJ
• Kwon JE
• Kim EY
• Lee WS
• Lee KJ
• Kim SW
• Kim TH
• Kim CJ

• KMID: 2224973
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2012.42.11.741

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The effects of fenofibrate on C-reactive protein (CRP) are under debate. We investigated the effect of fenofibrate on CRP levels and the variables determining changes.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
This case-control study enrolled 280 hypertriglyceridemic patients who were managed either with 200 mg of fenofibrate (Fenofibrate group, n=140) or with standard treatment (comparison group, n=140). CRP levels were measured before and after management for 2 months.
RESULTS
CRP levels decreased in both the fenofibrate (p=0.003) and comparison (p=0.048) groups. Changes in CRP levels were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.27) and were negatively associated with baseline CRP levels (r=-0.47, p<0.001). In patients with a baseline CRP level > or =1 mg/L, CRP levels also decreased in both groups (p=0.000 and p=0.001 respectively), however, more in the fenofibrate group than in the comparison group (p=0.025). The reduction of CRP was associated with higher baseline CRP levels (r=-0.29, p=0.001), lower body mass index (BMI, r=0.23, p=0.007), and fenofibrate therapy (r=0.19, p=0.025). CRP levels decreased more in the fenofibrate group than in the comparison group in patients with a BMI < or =26 kg/m2 with borderline significance (-1.21+/-1.82 mg/L vs. -0.89+/-1.92 mg/L, p=0.097). In patients with a high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level <40 mg/dL, CRP levels were reduced only in the fenofibrate group (p=0.006).
CONCLUSION
Fenofibrate reduced CRP levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients with high CRP and/or low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and without severe overweight. This finding suggests that fenofibrate may have an anti-inflammatory effect in selected patients.

Keyword

Fenofibric acid; C-reactive protein; Lipids; Lipoprotein

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
C-Reactive Protein
Cardiovascular Diseases
Case-Control Studies
Fenofibrate
Humans
Lipoproteins
Overweight
C-Reactive Protein
Fenofibrate
Lipoproteins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The relation between baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and changes in CRP levels in all patients (A), patients with a baseline CRP level ≥1 mg/L (B), and patients with a baseline CRP level <1 mg/L (C).

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  Fig. 2 The relation between changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and body mass index in patients with a baseline CRP level ≥1 mg/L. A: all patients. B: the comparison group. C: the fenofibrate group.

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