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

BACKGROUND: Bezafibrate (BZF) is effective for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia in dogs, but there is limited data on its long-term use. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Assess the long-term safety and efficacy of BZF in controlling primary and secondary hypertriglyceridemia in dogs. ANIMALS: Fifty-five client-owned dogs with hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: 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