Long‐term Effect of Clofibrate on Albumin Turnover and Distribution in Man

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The long‐term effect of clofibrate (at least 6 months' treatment) on albumin metabolism was investigated in 7 subjects and the results were compared with those from 15 control subjects. Human albumin labelled with 131I was used as a tracer. A significant difference between the groups was found in the following parameters: The clofibrate‐treated group had a prolonged rapid component (t1 1/2) of the disappearance curve (p <0.05), relatively increased albumin in the extravascular space (i.e. decreased distribution ratio, (p <0.01) and increased extravascular albumin space when corrected for body size by calculating it as per cent of the extravascular bromide space (p <0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups in albumin synthesis, fractional catabolic rate or the slow component (t2 1/2) of the disappearance curve. The results suggest that long‐term treatment with clofibrate causes changes in the intercellular matrix.