RESEARCH ARTICLE


Fenofibrate in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: A Pilot Study



E.N Liberopoulos1, M Florentin1, 2, M.S Elisaf1, *, D.P Mikhailidis2, E Tsianos1
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece
2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry (Vascular Disease Prevention clinics), Royal Free campus, University College London Medical School, University College London (UCL), Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK

Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2010
Volume: 4
First Page: 120
Last Page: 126
Publisher ID: TOCMJ-4-120
DOI: 10.2174/1874192401004010120

Article History:

Received Date: 16/3/2010
Revision Received Date: 31/3/2010
Acceptance Date: 2/4/2010
Electronic publication date: 28/4/2010
Collection year: 2010

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Creative Commons License
© Liberopoulos et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece; Tel: +302651007509; Fax: +302651007016; E-mail: egepi@cc.uoi.gr


Abstract

Background:

Most patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA); however, some do not respond fully. PBC is also associated with dyslipidemia, but a link with vascular risk has not been confirmed.

Methods and Results:

In this study we compared UDCA monotherapy with fenofibrate plus UDCA in PBC patients with incomplete biochemical response to UDCA monotherapy for ≥ 8 months. Ten patients (57.2±13.3 years old) with PBC and persistent elevations of liver enzymes after treatment with UDCA (600 mg/day) were randomized to continue UDCA (4 patients) or to receive micronized fenofibrate (200 mg/day) plus UDCA (6 patients) for 8 weeks. Significant reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in the combination treatment group. The serum activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotranferase also decreased in this group compared with baseline (-32.6%; p=0.012, -44%; p=0.031 and -16.9%; p=0.029, respectively). In contrast, no significant alterations in liver enzymes or lipid profile were observed in patients who continued UDCA monotherapy. The changes in the lipid and enzyme variables differed significantly (p<0.03) between the 2 groups. Fenofibrate was well tolerated.

Conclusions:

The administration of fenofibrate plus UDCA seems to be safe and may improve lipid and liver indices in patients with PBC who do not respond fully to UDCA monotherapy. Whether the improved lipid profile translates into a decreased risk of vascular events remains to be established.

Keywords: Fibrates, ursodeoxycholic acid, primary biliary cirrhosis, liver enzymes, dyslipidemia..