PRAVASTATIN TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH HY PERCHOLESTEROLEMIA AND NEPHROPATHY

The effectiveness and safety of pravastatin (20 mg at bed time), and i ts effects on proteinuria and progression of renal failure were evalua ted in 55 patients with nephropathy. Five patients were excluded in th e first month (7 due to rhabdomiolysis, 1 due to gastrointestinal disc omfort and 3 due to poor complianre with treatment). Fifty patients ca rried on the study: Thirteen patients showed nephrotic proteinuria, 35 significant proteinuria, 42 renal insufficiency and 29 proteinuria an d renal insufficiency. Forty-five patients completed I year treatment (two patients started dialysis, 1 suffered from gastrointestinal disco mfort and 2 were excluded because of poor compliance with treatment). Total serum cholesterol fell by 23 % and LDL-cholesterol by 29 %. Ther e were no significant changes in tryglicerides and HDL-cholesterol con centrations. A 25 % fall was observed in apolipoprotein B. There were no significant changes in proteinuria. To evaluate changes in progress ion of renal failure the slopes of reciprocal of serum creatinine vers us time were calculated before and during I year treatment for each pa tient. Slopes were not significantly different. We conclude that prava statin is a safe and effective cholesterol-lowering therapy in nephrol ogic patients. Long-term studies are necessary to evaluate its effects on progression renal failure.