Comparison of Treatment of Severe High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Deficiency in Men With Daily Atorvastatin (20 mg) Versus Fenofibrate (200 mg) Versus Extended-Release Niacin (2 g)

Schematic diagram of study protocol. B1, B2, B3 = baseline measurements 1, 2, 3; T1, T2, T3 = on-treatment measurements 1, 2, 3.

(A) Graphic representation of changes in lipid profile by protocol. (B) (Left) Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis of apoA-I–containing HDL particles at baseline (left) and on niacin (right) in 2 patients (Pts) with an increase in HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) of >20% on niacin. Note the increase in the large (12 to 17 nm) α-1 LpA-I particles after niacin treatment. (Right) Cellular cholesterol efflux from a patient's serum after niacin treatment. No significant ABCG1- or SR-B1–mediated efflux was observed, despite an increase in large HDL particles. BHK = baby hamster kidney cells; LDL-C = LDL cholesterol; TG = triglyceride.

*p<0.05; **p<0.01.