Fibrates in combination with statins in the management of dyslipidemia

While elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the primary target of hypercholesterolemia treatment, high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are also important targets for therapy. Correcting these lipid abnormalities should be an integral part of therapy in hypertensive individuals. Medications such as the fibrates are effective and well tolerated for reducing triglycerides and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and their use has resulted in a reduction in cardiovascular events. Fibrates are also recommended as adjunct therapy for patients receiving statins whose low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is not reduced to goal levels. The combination of a statin and a fibrate may, however, raise the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Gemfibrozil, one of the fibrates, but not fenofibrate, interferes with statin glucuronidation, which may increase the risk of myopathy due to elevations in statin serum levels. This may at least partially explain the lower incidence of myopathy with fenofibrate compared with gemfibrozil when combined with statins. Combination therapy with a fibrate and a statin is a potentially useful therapy for patients with atherogenic lipid profiles, for which fenofibrate appears to be a more appropriate choice due to less myopathic potential.