A randomized trial of the efficacy and safety of fenofibrate versus pravastatin in HIV-infected subjects with lipid abnormalities: AIDS Clinical Trials Group study 5087

There is a paucity of information on the safety and efficacy of lipid-lowering therapy for dyslipidemia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and antiretroviral therapy. Our objective was to determine whether fenofibrate and pravastatin were equivalent for the treatment of combined dyslipidemia in HIV as measured by a composite of the National Cholesterol Education Project (NCEP) goals based on absolute values for low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and to compare the safety of these agents through 48 weeks. This was a randomized, open-label trial with subjects assigned to fenofibrate 200 mg (n = 88) or pravastatin 40 mg (n = 86) daily. Subjects who failed to reach the NCEP composite goal on monotherapy by week 12 received both drugs. The composite goal at week 12 was achieved in 1% of fenofibrate and 5% of pravastatin subjects. At week 16, 69/88 subjects on fenofibrate added pravastatin (FP) and 67/86 subjects on pravastatin added fenofibrate (PF). At week 48, 7% FP subjects and 3% PF subjects achieved the composite goal. Median changes in LDL/HDL/TG/non-HDL were -8/+5/-144/-50 and -14/+2/-66/-34 mg/dl in subjects receiving FP and PF, respectively. There were few adverse events and no rhabdomyolysis reported. Combination therapy with fenofibrate and pravastatin for HIV-related dyslipidemia provides substantial improvements in lipid parameters and appears safe, but is unlikely to achieve all NCEP targets for lipid levels.