Endocrine Abstracts

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific but sensitive marker of underlying systemic inflammation. High CRP levels correlate with risk for future cardiovascular events. Statins can lower the circulating levels of CRP. In contrast, the evidence that fibrates lower CRP levels is very limited. This retrospective study evaluates the effect of micronised fenofibrate on plasma levels of CRP in patients with combined hyperlipidemia.

Sixty-four patients with combined hyperlipidemia were treated with micronised fenofibrate for a median of 22 months (range 11–38 months). Plasma lipids, serum liver function tests, alkaline phosphatase (AP), creatinine kinase (CK) and hs-CRP levels were measured before and sixth months of 200 mg per day micronised fenofibrate treatment.

At the end of 6 months of treatment with micronised fenofibrate total serum cholesterol decreased from 264±27 to 205±19 mg/dl (a 22% decrease, P<0.001), low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased from 152±30 to 102±21 mg/dl (a 33% decrease, P<0.001), high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased from 47±8 to 59±11 mg/dl (a 25% increase, P<0.001) and triglyceride decreased from 317±112 to 161±53 mg/dl (a 51% decrease, P<0.001). CRP levels decreased from 4.8±4.1 to 2.6±2.3 mg/l (a 50% decrease, P<0.001).

In the present study, it might be concluded that micronised fenofibrate significantly decreased of serum levels of hs-CRP in addition to lipid modifying effect.