# Long-term safety and efficacy of oral bezafibrate use in dogs with hypertriglyceridemia

## TL;DR

This study shows that long-term use of bezafibrate is safe and effective for managing high triglycerides in dogs.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the long-term safety and efficacy of bezafibrate in dogs with hypertriglyceridemia.

## Key findings

- Bezafibrate significantly reduced triglyceride levels by 85% in dogs over time.
- No significant differences in triglyceride reduction were found between primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia groups.
- Adverse effects were observed in only 4 out of 55 dogs.

## Abstract

Bezafibrate (BZF) is effective for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia in dogs, but there is limited data on its long-term use.

Assess the long-term safety and efficacy of BZF in controlling primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia in dogs.

Fifty-five client-owned dogs with hypertriglyceridemia.

Retrospective study. Dogs were treated with BZF once daily at a median initial dosage of 5.5 mg/kg (range, 3.6-11.6 mg/kg) and classified into 3 groups: primary hypertriglyceridemia (group 1), secondary hypertriglyceridemia without changes in treatment for the underlying condition over time (group 2a) or with changes in treatment for the underlying condition over time (group 2b). Serum triglyceride (TG) concentration, and creatine kinase (CK) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were recorded before treatment (T0) and at subsequent follow-ups (1, 3, 6, 12, and >18 months, as available). Treatment response was classified as adequate (TG decreased by ≥50 % T0) or inadequate (TG decreased by <50% T0).

All groups showed a significant decrease in TG concentration between baseline (T0) and the last available result (P <.01). No significant differences in the last follow-up TG concentration were observed among the 3 groups (P = .13). The median TG decrease across all groups during the study period was 85%. Adverse gastrointestinal or hepatic effects, possibly attributable to BZF, were observed in 4/55 dogs.

Long-term use of BZF proved safe and effective for most dogs with primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia.