Bezafibrate has limited effects on heart attacks and strokes

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7373.0/b

Bezafibrate has limited effects on heart attacks and strokes

Bezafibrate does not reduce the combined incidence of heart attacks and strokes among men with lower extremity arterial disease,though it may have some beneficial effect on heart attacks inmen under 65. Bezafibrate modifies lipid profiles and lower fibrinogenconcentrations, so it should reduce the incidence of cardiovascularevents. However, in a double blind placebo controlled trial ofbezafibrate in primary and secondary care, Meade and colleagues(p 1139) found no reduction in the combined incidence of heartattacks and strokes. There may have been a reduction in non-fatalheart attacks, especially in men under 65 years at entry, butthis needs confirmation in other trials. Bezafibrate leads toan increase in homocysteine concentrations, which may partly explainthe trial'sresults.