Long term efficacy of simvastatin in renal transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hyperlipidemia is frequently developed following renal transplantation and results in worsening of the patient's prognosis.

METHODS:

In this study, 14 patients who had hypercholesterolemia [total cholesterol (TC) >200 mg/dL] and hypertriglyceridemia [triglyceride (TG) >150 mg/dL] 1 month after renal transplantation (post-transplantation), seven patients each under the treatment with immunosuppressant, either cyclosporine or tacrolimus started simvastatin treatment of 5-10 mg/d and continued the treatment for 4 yr. The effect of simvastatin treatment was assessed by comparison in serum lipid levels (TC, TG, cholesterol in lipoprotein fractions, and apolipoproteins) and the lipid metabolism related enzyme activities for post-transplantation, after 6-month and 4-yr simvastatin treatment.

RESULTS:

Simvastatin treatment of 4 yr significantly decreased the elevated levels of serum TC from 234.5 +/- 30.8 to 186.3 +/- 20.5 mg/dL (p < 0.001), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 116.7 +/- 22.5 to 82.7 +/- 16.6 mg/dL (p < 0.05) and TG from 200.3 +/- 109.2 to 97.0 +/- 45.2 mg/dL (p < 0.001). In addition, there were significant decreases in elevated serum very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) from 47.8 +/- 18.4 to 28.6 +/- 9.5 mg/dL (p < 0.001) and LDL2 cholesterol (LDL2-C) from 20.8 +/- 8.2 to 5.7 +/- 1.8 mg/dL (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

The results indicate that 4-yr treatment of simvastatin improves profiles of the atherogenic lipids in renal transplant patients with immunosuppressant caused hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia treated either cyclosporine or tacrolimus in similar manner.

• Authors: Ryoichi Imamura, Naotsugu Ichimaru, Toshiki Moriyama, Yi Shi, Yukiomi Namba, Norio Nonomura, Kiyomi Matsumiya, Kiyohide Toki, Shiro Takahara, Akihiko Okuyama
• Journal: Clinical transplantation (Clin Transplant) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 616-21 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0902-0063 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 16146552 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Lipids
• Cyclosporine
• Simvastatin
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Adult
• Cyclosporine (therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Graft Rejection (blood, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Hyperlipidemias (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Hypolipidemic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Kidney Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• Prognosis
• Simvastatin (therapeutic use)
• Tacrolimus (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome