The comparation of the effects of pravastatin, atorvastatin and fenofibrate on plasma fibrinogen level and erythrocyte deformability in type II a, II b hyperlipidemia

Twenty one patients ( U nale, 1> female) with type ila and lib hyperlipidemia randomised to three groups and one of the drugs given (pravastatin 20 rhg/day, atorvastatinIO mg/day, fenofibrate 250 mg/day) for 8 weeks. In each group there were sex and age matched 7 patients. There was no significant difference in body mass index, lipid profile, fibrinogen level, erythrocyte deformability index values between the goups before treatment (P>0,05). In all groups there were statistically significant reductions in total, LDL- cholesterol levels (p<0,05). The most prominent total and LDL cholesterol lowering effect was due to atorvastatin treatment. The triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in atorvastatin and fenofibrate groups (p<0,05), but not in pravastatin group (p>0,05). There was no significant change in HDL- cholesterol levels during the treatment with statins (pravastatin, atorvastatin), but there was a significant increase in fenofibrate group (p<0,05). Mean erythrocyte deformability index was improved in all the groups (p<0,05). There was no significant difference in the the degree of erythrocyte deformability index improvement between the three drugs (p>0,05). There was no significant change in fibrinogen levels during the treatment of atorvastatin and pravastatin group patients (p>0,05). However there was beneficial effects of fenofibrate on fibrinogen levels beyond lipid lowering effect. These data show that these three groups of antihyperlipidemic drugs have beneficial effects on erythrocyte deformability index beyond their lipid lowering effects. In addition fenofibrate has significant beneficial effects on fibrinogen levels which is one of the important cardiovascular risk factor.