3 Year simvastatin treatment and lens nuclear back scattering

Aim-To determine if 3 year treatment of hypercholesterolaemia with simvasta tin causes an increase of lens nuclear back scattering. Methods-160 patients with hypercholesterolaemia in the Scandinavian Simvast atin Survival Study (4S) were followed for 3 years. Half (80) of the patien ts took simvastatin and half (80) received placebo. The lens was photograph ed with a Topcon SL-45 slit lamp camera at the beginning and at 1 year inte rvals. A common lens nuclear area was used for measuring lens nuclear back scattering. Results-Nuclear back scattering increased with age and there was more prono unced scattering in women than in men. Lens nuclear back scattering did not differ significantly between the simvastatin and placebo groups, but the p ower was low (0.2). Lens nuclear back scattering increased during the study period independently of baseline back scattering, age, and sex for both gr oups. Conclusion-Although no significant difference was found between the simvast atin and placebo groups, the currently available data are insufficient for exclusion of the possibility that taking simvastatin during a 3 year period increases nuclear back scattering. However, a possible minor increase of n uclear back scattering is clinically irrelevant considering known beneficia l effects of simvastatin on coronary heart disease.