Fibrates - The Other Life-saving Lipid Drugs

The main controversy in the area of lipid management today is related to the usefulness of �non-statin� agents to maximize cardiovascular risk reduction in particular patient types, such as those with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Fibrate drugs, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (TriCor), are undoubtedly the best tools to address the condition characterized by high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (atherogenic dyslipidemia), but the most recent guidelines from both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Cholesterol Education Panel continue to focus on LDL control as the target of therapy.