The objective was to investigate the tolerance of ethophylline
clofibrate (
EPC) and its effectiveness on changes of dyslipidaemia and compensation of diabetes in type II diabetics during six-month administration of the preparation
Duolip forte (Merckle). Twenty diabetics with dyslipoproteinaemia IIb and IV according to Frederickson's classification, compensated by diet alone or combined with oral
antidiabetics (Glucobene, Merckle) were included in the study consecutively according to uniform basal criteria. The selected hypolipidaemic agent was administered to patients according to the following pattern: the first four weeks 1,000 mg (2
tablets in the evening) the next two weeks 1.5
tablets and then till the end of the investigation 1
tablet in the evening. In all patients treatment with
EPC led to a significant reduction of the total
cholesterol level (CH) at all time intervals. Changes of
ApoB, ApoA1 and Lp(a) serum levels did not attain statistical significance but trends were revealed (e.g. a drop of the
ApoB/ApoA1 index) which are consistent with the expected favourable action of
EPC on the CH distribution in
lipoproteins. The
triacylglycerol (TG) serum concentration declined significantly already after one month of treatment and after identification of five patients whose TG were distributed in separate clusters the hypotriacylglycerolaemic effect of
EPC persisted still three months
after treatment. It may be summarized that treatment of dyslipoproteinaemia of the type II diabetics with ethophylline
clofibrate (
Duolip forte, Merckle) led a) to a marked reduction (13-15%) of serum
cholesterol, which b) diminished (to 8-9%) but persisted still after 6 months of treatment, c) the greatest effect of
EPC on the TG serum level was observed one month
after treatment, d) all improvements of
lipid parameters occurred without affecting the compensation of diabetes, or BMI and were not associated with any side-effects of
EPC.