PURPOSE:

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of etofibrate in primary hyperlipidemia in patients from clinical centers representative of all main Brazilian cities.

METHODS:

One thousand, nine hundred and fourty three hyperlipidemic patients were submitted to diet and drug treatment with etofibrate (500 mg/day) for eight weeks. The data b WAS analyzed as to changes in the lipoprotein profile, as well as the side effects.

RESULTS:

There was an important reduction in total cholesterol (19.88), triglycerides (29.59), LDL-c (14.89) and VLDL-c (14.54) concentration. There was a significant increase in HDL-c (18.14). Adverse effects were observed in 8.5 of the patients, without major clinical relevance, however, in 1.44 the treatment had to be interrupted.

CONCLUSION:

Administration of etofibrate promoted positive changes in all parameters of the lipid and lipoprotein profile, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerotic disease, without significant side effects in the great majority of sample studied.