Gemfibrozil treatment of combined hyperlipoproteinemia - No improvement of fibrinolysis despite marked reduction of plasma triglyceride levels

Hypertriglyceridemia is linked to impaired fibrinolytic function, and lipid-lowering treatment with fibric acid derivatives could hypothetically improve fibrinolysis in this condition. We therefore conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of gemfibrozil treatment on fibrinolytic function in 21 men with combined hyperlipoproteinemia. Measurements were performed at rest and during mental stress and after venous occlusion. The patients had clearly disturbed fibrinolytic function, with elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity at rest (approximate to 25 U/mL; reference, <15 U/mL). Gemfibrozil reduced plasma total and VLDL cholesterol as well as all triglyceride fractions, whereas HDL cholesterol increased (P<.001 for all). Total triglyceride levels were reduced by 57 +/- 4% (from 5.3 to 2.1 mmol/L). Fasting serum insulin levels were not altered by gemfibrozil treatment. Plasma levels of PAI-1 activity and tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) activity or antigen were unaffected by gemfibrozil treatment both at rest and during the provocations. The levels of D-dimer, plasmin/antiplasmin complex, and fibrinogen were also uninfluenced by gemfibrozil treatment. Mental stress elevated plasma TPA (P=.0036) and lowered PAI-1 (P=.0012) activity during placebo but not gemfibrozil treatment (P=.28 and P=.17, respectively), but treatment effects did not differ by ANOVA on h values (ie, stress minus rest). Venous occlusion reduced PAI-1 activity, whereas TPA and plasmin/antiplasmin complex increased during both treatments. Thus, gemfibrozil treatment did not improve fibrinolysis or lower fibrinogen levels in men with combined hyperlipoproteinemia despite marked reduction of plasma triglyceride levels. It seems unlikely that improved fibrinolysis explains the primary preventive effect of gemfibrozil.