A Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Fenofibric Acid Plus Rosuvastatin Compared With Rosuvastatin Alone in Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have mixed dyslipidemia and high cardiovascular disease risk. Although statins reduce LDL-C, adding a fibrate may further improve lipid parameters. Objective This multicenter, randomized study evaluated the short-term efficacy and safety profile of fenofibric acid (FA) + rosuvastatin (R) combination therapy for improving lipid parameters in patients with stage 3 CKD and mixed dyslipidemia. The study also assessed estimated glomerular filtration rate after study drug washout. Methods Patients received FA 45 mg + R (5 mg for 8 weeks, then 10 mg for 8 additional weeks) or R monotherapy (5 mg for 8 weeks, then 10 mg for 8 additional weeks), followed by an 8-week washout period. Primary and secondary end points were percent changes in triglycerides and HDL-C, respectively, from baseline to week 8. Results FA 45 mg + R 5 mg, compared with R 5 mg, resulted in significant improvements in triglycerides (median % changes: week 8, −38.0% vs −22.4%, P < 0.001; week 16, −42.6% vs −29.7%, P < 0.001) and HDL-C (mean % changes: week 8, 16.9% vs 7.8%, P < 0.001; week 16, 17.3% vs 8.9%, P < 0.001). Adverse event rates were similar between groups (70.7% with FA + R vs 68.6% with R). Mean serum creatinine level at baseline was 1.36 mg/dL in the FA + R group and 1.38 mg/dL in the R group. The final treatment serum creatinine value, defined as the last nonmissing postbaseline value collected within 30 days after the last dose of study drug, was 1.52 mg/dL with FA + R (vs 1.41 mg/dL with R; P < 0.001), which then decreased to 1.39 mg/dL after the 8-week washout (vs 1.42 mg/dL with R). Conclusions The data suggest that, after 16 weeks of therapy, FA + R has an acceptable safety profile and improved TG and HDL-C efficacy versus R. FA + R combination therapy may thus further improve lipid parameters in patients with stage 3 CKD and mixed dyslipidemia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00680017.