D. Demetriou et al., Beneficial effects of atorvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia after renal transplantation, WIEN KLIN W, 112(8), 2000, pp. 358-361
Despite the availability of various lipid lowering drugs, the treatment of
hyperlipidemia, one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and mo
rtality after organ transplantation, remains a therapeutic challenge. We in
vestigated the safety and efficacy of a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, at
orvastatin, in renal transplant patients whose serum lipids were insufficie
ntly controlled by diet and treatment with other lipid lowering drugs. Twen
ty-four patients (14 males/10 females; mean age 51.2 +/- 2.3 years) were co
nverted to low dose atorvastatin (10 mg/day) at a mean of 67.7 +/- 8.6 mont
hs after renal transplantation and prospectively followed for 3 months afte
r initiation of the study drug. HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol, triglyceri
des, serum creatinine and CPK levels were evaluated pre (-3, -1, 0 months)
and post conversion (+1, +3 months). in the eighteen patients who completed
the study, low dose atorvastatin therapy led to a significant reduction in
total cholesterol (304.6 +/- 13.2 vs. 247.6 +/- 12.0 mg/dl; p = 0.007) and
LDL cholesterol (191.9 +/- 9.0 vs. 141.8 +/- 14.7 mg/dl; p < 0.0001) and a
modest reduction in serum triglyceride levels at three months after conver
sion.
We conclude that low dose atorvastatin (10 mg/day) can be successfully used
and appears to be safe in the treatment of posttransplant hyperlipidemia.
Its long-term effects on patient morbidity and mortality as well as graft s
urvival should be investigated in larger and more prolonged prospective tri
als.