Scientific Reports, 2019 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53753-7 · Published: November 5, 2019
This study investigated the effectiveness of fenofibrate, a drug that lowers triglyceride levels, in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Persons with SCI often have abnormal lipid profiles that increase their risk of cardiovascular disease. The research found that fenofibrate treatment for four months significantly improved lipid profiles in SCI patients. This suggests fenofibrate could reduce the risk of heart disease in this population. The study suggests that the threshold for considering lipid-lowering drug intervention may be lower in people with SCI compared to the general population.
The findings support considering fenofibrate treatment for improving lipid profiles and potentially reducing CVD risk in individuals with SCI, even at lower TG concentrations than typically used in the general population.
The study suggests the need for larger, longer-term clinical trials to further assess the efficacy and safety of fenofibrate and other hypolipidemic agents in the SCI population.
The study highlights the importance of considering SCI-specific thresholds for lipid management due to the unique cardiometabolic risk factors associated with SCI.