Effect of bezafibrate therapy on atherosclerotic aortic plaques detected by MRI in dyslipidemic patients with hypertriglyceridemia

Fibrates reduce triglycerides (TG) and increase HDL-cholesterol levels, but there was no report showing plaque regression by fibrates. Using MRI, we investigated the effects of bezafibrate on aortic plaques in 22 dyslipidemic patients. All patients were asked to receive 400 mg bezafibrate, but 8 who declined to have bezafibrate became the control group. Changes in vessel wall area (VWA) and lumen area (LA) from baseline to 1-year were evaluated. Bezafibrate reduced TG (−55%) and increased HDL-cholesterol levels (+29%). Bezafibrate reduced HDL size and increased LDL size. In thoracic plaques, bezafibrate reduced VWA (−6%, P < 0.001) with no LA change, but VWA slightly progressed without bezafibrate (+5%). In abdominal plaques, bezafibrate reduced VWA (−8%, P < 0.001) with LA increase (+3%, P < 0.02), but VWA progressed without bezafibrate (+6%). VWA changes in thoracic and abdominal plaques correlated with TG reduction and HDL-cholesterol increase. Notably, VWA change in only abdominal plaques correlated with HDL size reduction and LDL size increase. Thus, bezafibrate induced plaque regression in thoracic and abdominal aortas with marked TG reduction and HDL-cholesterol increase, but the processes of plaque regression and vascular remodeling may differ between thoracic and abdominal aortas. However, because our study was not a controlled, randomized trial, further study is needed.