A pilot study of the effect of Gemfibrozil on some haematological parameters.

In a double-blind 13 week study the effects of Gemfibrozil were compared with placebo. Gemfibrozil was given to 10 patients with evidence of severe atherosclerosis; four similar patients acted as controls. As expected, in the treated group, total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased significantly and HDL cholesterol increased. The Fibrinogen did not change although the ESR increased markedly and the heparin neutralizing activity (HNA) of the plasma decreased (p = 0.01). The antithrombic activity increased. The change in the HNA correlated weakly to the total cholesterol both before and during treatment. These findings show that some of the effects of Gemfibrozil on atherosclerotic humans are similar to those of Clofibrate but others are different.

A comparison of dopamine and homovanillic acid excretion, as prognostic indicators in malignant phaeochromocytoma.

The urinary excretion of dopamine and its metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) were compared in 15 patients with malignant phaeochromocytoma. Six patients with increased dopamine and HVA excretion had disseminated malignancy and the poorest prognosis. Four patients with increased urinary dopamine levels but normal HVA excretion also had widespread metastases and poor prognosis. The best prognosis was for 5 patients who had normal excretion of dopamine and HVA, and minimal disease. When dopamine and HVA excretion were considered separately, it was found that duration of survival was significantly better for patients with normal dopamine excretion than those with increased dopamine excretion (p less than 0.003). There was no significant difference in survival time between patients with normal and increased HVA excretion. In this study dopamine excretion appeared to be a more discriminating biochemical index of malignancy, prognosis and disease progression than HVA excretion.