Efficacy and safety of pravastatin vs simvastatin after cardiac transplantation

A Prospective Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Pravastatin for the Treatment of Refractory Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

This prospective study evaluates the safety and efficacy of pravastatin for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We included 18 patients with refractory chronic GVHD. Oral pravastatin was started at 10 mg/day, and the dose was increased up to 40 mg/day in 4 weeks. This maximum dose was administered over 8 weeks. There were no severe adverse events caused by pravastatin. A clinical response was observed in the skin score in two patients, mouth score in five patients, eye score in two patients, liver score in three patients, platelet count score in one patient, and weight loss in two patients. The overall response rate was 28%. Immunophenotypic analyses showed that T-helper (Th)1 cells were dominant in all but one patient before treatment and that the Th1/Th2 ratio tended to be lower in the responders than in the nonresponders. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of pravastatin against chronic GVHD.

Management of the Patient After Heart Transplant

Cardiac transplantation is a highly effective therapy for selected patients with end-stage cardiac disease. The management of the patient after heart transplant involves three main strategies: optimization of immunosuppressive therapy, prevention of complications resulting from the transplant or the immunosuppressive agents, and treatment of those complications when they arise. For most patients, optimal current immunosuppression in the first year after transplantation consists of combination therapy with a calcineurin inhibitor (eg, cyclosporine or tacrolimus), corticosteroids, and an antimetabolite agent (eg, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil). Ideally, the corticosteroid is weaned and discontinued 1 to 2 years following transplantation and the patient is managed chronically with a two-drug immunosuppressive regimen. The major complications that occur following cardiac transplantation include infection, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, graft coronary disease, renal insufficiency, and malignancy. Preventive efforts focused on infection, osteoporosis, renal insufficiency, and malignancy include minimization of immunosuppression. Once established, treatment of any of the above conditions generally relies on standard pharmacologic therapies; however, an understanding of potential drug interactions is critical. In addition, although standard nonpharmacologic therapies may be used to treat several of these conditions, one must be cognizant of special issues related to the post-transplant state.

Simvastatin augments lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory responses in macrophages by differential regulation of the c-Fos and c-Jun transcription factors

The 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, are a widely used class of drugs for cholesterol reduction. The reduction in mortality and morbidity in statin-treated patients is incompletely explained by their effects on cholesterol, and an anti-inflammatory role for the drug has been proposed. We report in this work that, unexpectedly, simvastatin enhances LPS-induced IL-12p40 production by murine macrophages, and that it does so by activating the IL-12p40 promoter. Mutational analysis and dominant-negative expression studies indicate that both C/EBP and AP-1 transcription factors have a crucial role in promoter activation. This occurs via a c-Fos- and c-Jun-based mechanism; we demonstrate that ectopic expression of c-Jun activates the IL-12p40 promoter, whereas expression of c-Fos inhibits IL-12p40 promoter activity. Simvastatin prevents LPS-induced c-Fos expression, thereby relieving the inhibitory effect of c-Fos on the IL-12p40 promoter. Concomitantly, simvastatin induces the phosphorylation of c-Jun by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, resulting in c-Jun-dependent activation of the IL-12p40 promoter. This appears to be a general mechanism because simvastatin also augments LPS-dependent activation of the TNF-alpha promoter, perhaps because the TNF-alpha promoter has C/EBP and AP-1 binding sites in a similar configuration to the IL-12p40 promoter. The fact that simvastatin potently augments LPS-induced IL-12p40 and TNF-alpha production has implications for the treatment of bacterial infections in statin-treated patients.

Role of statin therapy in the coronary bypass patient

Statins have been proven to prevent or delay ischemic events in patients at risk for atherosclerotic coronary disease. Increasing evidence suggests that statin therapy is also beneficial to patients undergoing coronary revascularization. In this review statin therapy will be shown to improve vein graft patency, minimize recurrent ischemic events, and decrease the need for repeat revascularization procedures in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting.

Treatment of hyperlipidemia in cardiac transplant recipients

Of the 60,000 patients receiving heart transplants between 1982 and 2001, approximately 12,000 are currently alive. The high incidence of hyperlipidemia and coronary disease (also known as accelerated graft atherosclerosis, or AGA) in these patients warrants early prophylaxis soon after transplantation with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins). Immunosuppressive agents such as prednisone, cyclosporine, mycophenylate mofetil, and sirolimus are associated with hyperlipidemia. Statins, in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, also benefit cardiac transplant recipients via effects on the immune system and endothelial function. Recent data have demonstrated that statins decrease AGA and mortality rates. Furthermore, greater benefits are seen when statins are started early. The 2 statins shown to decrease mortality in patients after cardiac transplantation are pravastatin and simvastatin, which differ in their metabolism (pravastatin is the only statin with non-cytochrome metabolism) and lipophilicity (pravastatin is less lipophilic). Although the benefit of simvastatin has been shown to extend to 8 years after transplantation, increased adverse effects in other studies with higher doses of simvastatin have resulted in new prescribing recommendations, which state that the dose of simvastatin should probably not exceed 10 mg with cyclosporine or gemfibrozil and 20 mg with amiodarone or verapamil. The evidence for potential benefits, interactions, and adverse effects of other potential lipid-lowering drugs for this patient population, such as fibrates, niacin, fish oil, cholestyramine, and ezetimibe, are also discussed. A summary algorithm is proposed, including approaches to patients with statin-associated musculoskeletal symptoms and patients with inadequate results after initial statin therapy.

Dyslipidemias and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Prescription in Heart Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND:

The treatment of dyslipidemias in orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) recipients is not highlighted in the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guidelines. Emerging data suggest that hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) safely reduce the risk of transplant rejection and coronary artery vasculopathy in OHT patients.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the proportion of patients from our institution reaching the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <100 mg/dL, evaluate the impact of statins in reaching this goal, and evaluate the prescribing practice for statins in US OHT centers.

METHODS:

The management of dyslipidemia of OHT recipients followed at our institution was retrospectively evaluated. In addition, the use of statins in adult OHT centers in the US that performed ≥1 5 OHTs per year was assessed through a survey.

RESULTS:

Of the 328 patients from our institution, 58.5% achieved an LDL-C <100 mg/dL. Patients prescribed statins were more likely to reach this goal (p < 0.01). A total of 85.0% of centers responding to the survey use statins as a part of their post-OHT protocol, primarily to reduce coronary artery vasculopathy (70.6%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Due to the potential for improved outcomes, a large proportion of patients are prescribed a statin. Our results support previous findings that statins are safe and effective in reducing LDL-C in the management of dyslipidemias in OHT recipients. Nonetheless, dyslipidemias are suboptimally managed in many post-OHT patients.

Efficacy and safety of fluvastatin therapy for hypercholesterolemia after heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

Hypercholesterolemia is frequent after heart transplantation. Statins can reduce cholesterol levels but their use in heart transplant patients is complicated by pharmacokinetic interactions with cyclosporin and the risk of serious adverse effects including rhabdomyolysis. Fluvastatin has been used safely to treat hypercholesterolemia in renal transplant patients but there are few data relating to its use after heart transplantation. Therefore, we conducted a randomised blinded placebo controlled trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients, 3 months to 12 years after heart transplantation with a low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol between 3.5 and 8.0 mmol/l were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive either fluvastatin 40 mg od (n=52) or matching placebo (n=27). Changes in total cholesterol (TC) in the fluvastatin and placebo groups were -17.0% and +4.5%, respectively, (p<0.001); the corresponding changes in LDL were -20.5% and +4.8% (P<0.001) and in triglycerides -14.5% and +7.1% (p=0.012) at the end of the 1-year study period. Withdrawals were more frequent in the fluvastatin group (23% vs. 11% p=0.24). Two deaths occurred during the study (the rate expected from International Society of Heart Lung Transplantation registry) and appeared to be unrelated to the study medication. There were no episodes of rhabdomyolysis or other serious drug-related side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluvastatin (40 mg/day) was both an effective and a safe treatment for hypercholesterolemia in patients who had undergone heart transplantation more than 3 months previously.

Regular use of margarine-containing stanol/sterol esters reduces total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and allows reduction of statin therapy after cardiac transplantation: preliminary observations

Seventeen stable cardiac transplant recipients, of whom 16 were on statin therapy, used margarine with stanol/sterol esters. Total cholesterol in the treatment group was lowered from 211 mg/dl (range 168 to 244) to 177 mg/dl (136 to 241) (17% reduction, p = 0.003) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was reduced from 125 mg/dl (73 to 161) to 98 mg/dl (57 to 146) (22% reduction, p = 0.0006). LDL cholesterol reached the pre-defined cut-off level of 115 mg/dl in 12 of 17 patients and statin dosages were reduced. In 8 of 12 patients, LDL cholesterol remained at <115 mg/dl 6 weeks after statin reduction.

Cytochrome P450 drug interactions within the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class: are they clinically relevant?

The present review outlines the clinical relevance of pharmacokinetic drug interactions within the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class. These interactions can result in markedly increased or decreased plasma concentrations of some drugs within this class. However, the relationship between altered plasma concentrations and adverse effects or toxicity may not be linear. It is likely that other variables affect this concentration-effect relationship including: rapid changes in the concentration, concomitant lipid-lowering therapy or host genetic factors that code for different forms or amounts of metabolising enzymes and drug receptors. It is not currently possible to predict which patients will manifest clinically important drug-drug interactions, nor what concentration of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor will cause rhabdomyolysis. Thus, until prescribers have better scientific information from which to develop a 'therapeutic range' for each agent, caution should be exercised. In particular, patients taking a CYP3A4-metabolised agent, e.g. atorvastatin, simvastatin and lovastatin, should not be started on a CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer without close monitoring.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors as immunomodulators: potential use in transplant rejection

The benefit of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) to the cardiovascular system is now well established and these drugs are being used extensively to treat hypercholesterolaemia clinically. However, as clinical outcomes become available it appears that statins are proving more beneficial than expected and thus it is being proposed that the actions of statins go beyond their ability to lower serum cholesterol levels. The report that statins can interact directly with lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1 and prevent it engaging with the intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 receptor on T cells is a novel mechanism of statin action and provides convincing evidence that these compounds can regulate biological systems other than by the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Immunosuppression to prevent organ transplant rejection is one application for which statins are currently being assessed. The clinical evidence is conflicting and does not convincingly reflect whether statins are beneficial as immunomodulators. However, in vivo studies investigating the cellular actions of statins have identified two mechanisms by which statins can potentially modulate an in vivo immune response. Firstly, statins regulate inducible class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression on macrophages and endothelial cells. Secondly, statins can inhibit LFA-1 adhesion to ICAM-1 and thus regulate T cell activation. These findings suggest that statins have the potential to regulate an immune response in vivo and that more investigation is essential in order to explain the opposing clinical data.

Prognosis of moderate coronary artery lesions in heart transplant patients

BACKGROUND

Despite recent advances in our understanding of allograft vasculopathy, little is known about the evolution of moderate coronary lesions in heart transplant recipients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 58 heart transplant patients undergoing annual coronary angiography who demonstrated a moderate lesion (>30% and <60% diameter stenosis) on any routine annual study. In an attempt to find criteria that could distinguish such patients who were at high risk of disease progression from those at low risk, we reviewed the clinical and biologic features and angiographic and clinical outcomes of patients with and without lesion progression at 1 year.

RESULTS

Of the 58 patients who had an initially moderate coronary lesion, 28 (48%) showed progression of the lesion at angiography 1 year later (occlusion of the culprit vessel or progression to a severe lesion >60%) that required revascularization (angioplasty or bypass surgery). The 30 remaining patients showed no lesion progression. At the time of the first angiogram the only criterion which could predict lesion progression at 1 year was the presence of multi-vessel disease (p < 0.0001). Prognosis for these patients was poorer than in those with no disease progression, with a higher proportion of revascularization and sudden death (p < 0.001). Patients without lesion progression at 1 year had neither clinical events nor significant subsequent lesion progression during a mean follow-up of 6 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of a moderate coronary stenosis in heart transplant patients justifies a repeat angiogram 1 year later. The use of percutaneous coronary angioplasty in such patients has not been validated, but may be an option to delay or prevent progression to coronary occlusion.

Comparative beneficial effects of simvastatin and pravastatin on cardiac allograft rejection and survival

OBJECTIVES

We sought to evaluate the relative effects of low doses of pravastatin (20 mg/day) and simvastatin (10 mg/day) on indices of cardiac allograft rejection. We further examined the relative efficacy and safety of these two drugs on lipid-lowering in heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND

The immunomodulatory effects of hydroxy methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors have been increasingly recognized. Previous studies have demonstrated an ameliorative influence of pravastatin on hemodynamically compromising rejection after heart transplantation. A recent observational trial suggested that simvastatin 20 mg/day was associated with trends to lower survival and more adverse effects than pravastatin 40 mg/day.

METHODS

In a 12-month prospective, open-label study, 50 heart transplant recipients received either open-label pravastatin 20 mg daily (n = 24) or simvastatin 10 mg daily (n = 26) within four weeks of transplantation. Indices of allograft rejection including treated rejection, rejection with hemodynamic compromise, noncellular rejection, and mean one-year biopsy score were compared between the two cohorts, as well as with a statin-naive control population (n = 37). Lipid levels, safety, and post-transplant outcomes were also assessed as secondary end points.

RESULTS

We found no significant differences in any allograft rejection parameter between the two groups. However, total low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but not high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides, were lower in the simvastatin arm (-23% vs. -11%, p = 0.02). No cases of rhabdomyolysis or myositis occurred in either group. Survival at one year was similar in both treatment groups (91% for patients on pravastatin and 92% for patients on simvastatin). Both groups had better survival compared with the statin-naive control group (80%, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Simvastatin (10 mg/day) and pravastatin (20 mg/day) are associated with similar beneficial effects on cardiac allograft rejection and one-year survival. At these doses, simvastatin decreases LDL cholesterol more so than pravastatin with no increase in adverse effects in heart transplantation.

Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin after pediatric heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

Lipid abnormalities are prevalent after pediatric and adult heart transplantation. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are efficacious and safe and can lower the incidence of graft coronary artery disease after heart transplantation in adults. Given the high prevalence of lipid abnormalities and the increased recognition of graft coronary disease in children, we retrospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin among pediatric heart transplant recipients.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients were started on atorvastatin 48.2 +/- 54.4 months after transplantation. Atorvastatin dosage was 0.2 +/- 0.1 mg/kg per day. No patient had changes in drug dose unless there was evidence for rhabdomyolysis, myositis or an asymptomatic rise in creatine kinase above normal. Laboratory studies included total cholesterol, triglycerides; high, low and very low-density lipoproteins (HDL, LDL and VLDL, respectively); creatine kinase; creatine; and serum alanine transaminase.

RESULTS

Significant declines in total cholesterol (20%), triglyceride (18%) and LDL (26%) were observed after starting atorvastatin therapy. There were no significant changes in HDL or VLDL compared with baseline. There were also no differences in alanine transaminase pre- vs post-atorvastatin therapy. Complications included muscle pain (n = 2) and asymptomatic elevations in creatine kinase (n = 2). Two of these 4 patients developed rhabdomyolysis. Excluding these 4 patients, creatine kinase did not rise compared with baseline. No patient developed alterations in renal function.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of atorvastatin in pediatric heart transplant recipients is effective in lowering total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL without altering HDL levels. Complications included rhabdomyolysis, seen in 5%. Baseline and routine screening of creatine kinase should be employed in all pediatric patients undergoing HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor therapy.

[Utility of pravastin in cardiac transplant dyslipidemia]

Patients undergoing cardiac transplantation are at increased risk of dyslipidemia (60% to 80%). Lipid-lowering treatment in these patients should be aggressive given the known role of dyslipidemia in chronic transplant rejection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pravastatina therapy and its effect upon cyclosporine levels in a population of dyslipidemic cardiac transplant patients.A total of 20 cardiac transplant patients were enrolled in this 39-week length prospective observational study. Patients had serum cholesterol levels exceeding 200 mg/dl, and received pravastatin therapy at the adequate dose to obtain an optimal lipid profile without significant adverse effects. Pravastatin, at a mean dose of 50 18 mg/day, produced a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (from 291 32 to 203 25 mg/dl, p < 0.05), LDL cholesterol (from 187 34 to 102 15 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels (from 48 16 to 55 14, p < 0.05). A slight asymptomatic increase in CPK levels was observed but no differences in cyclosporine levels. Pravastatin has shown to be an effective and safe therapy in dyslipidemic cardiac transplant patients.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic drug interactions with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are effective in both the primary and secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease. As a group, these drugs are well tolerated apart from two uncommon but potentially serious adverse effects: elevation of liver enzymes and skeletal muscle abnormalities, which range from benign myalgias to life-threatening rhabdomyolysis. Adverse effects with statins are frequently associated with drug interactions because of their long-term use in older patients who are likely to be exposed to polypharmacy. The recent withdrawal of cerivastatin as a result of deaths from rhabdomyolysis illustrates the clinical importance of such interactions. Drug interactions involving the statins may have either a pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic basis, or both. As these drugs are highly extracted by the liver, displacement interactions are of limited importance. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system plays an important part in the metabolism of the statins, leading to clinically relevant interactions with other agents, particularly cyclosporin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole and HIV protease inhibitors, that are also metabolised by this enzyme system. An additional complicating feature is that individual statins are metabolised to differing degrees, in some cases producing active metabolites. The CYP3A family metabolises lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin and cerivastatin, whereas CYP2C9 metabolises fluvastatin. Cerivastatin is also metabolised by CYP2C8. Pravastatin is not significantly metabolised by the CYP system. In addition, the statins are substrates for P-glycoprotein, a drug transporter present in the small intestine that may influence their oral bioavailability. In clinical practice, the risk of a serious interaction causing myopathy is enhanced when statin metabolism is markedly inhibited. Thus, rhabdomyolysis has occurred following the coadministration of cyclosporin, a potent CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein inhibitor, and lovastatin. Itraconazole has been shown to increase exposure to simvastatin and its active metabolite by at least 10-fold. Pharmacodynamically, there is an increased risk of myopathy when statins are coprescribed with fibrates or nicotinic acid. This occurs relatively infrequently, but is particularly associated with the combination of cerivastatin and gemfibrozil. Statins may also alter the concentrations of other drugs, such as warfarin or digoxin, leading to alterations in effect or a requirement for clinical monitoring. Knowledge of the pharmacokinetic properties of the statins should allow the avoidance of the majority of drug interactions. If concurrent therapy with known inhibitors of statin metabolism is necessary, the patient should be monitored for signs and symptoms of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis and the statin should be discontinued if necessary.

How well tolerated are lipid-lowering drugs?

It has been clearly established that lipid-lowering treatments [such as 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutamyl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors ('statins') or fibrates] can reduce cardiovascular events, and with one of the statins even total mortality, in high-risk populations. Intervention studies have not included the very old, but it is generally assumed that this patient group would benefit from these treatments to an extent similar to younger patients. Worries about the associations seen in observational studies between low cholesterol levels and cancer, cerebral haemorrhage or mood and behaviour change have been largely overcome by findings from the latest large drug intervention trials, which do not show any increase in these conditions with statin or fibrate treatments. The common adverse effects associated with these drugs are relatively mild and often transient in nature. Potentially more serious adverse effects, which are more clearly related to drug treatment and are probably dose-dependent, include elevations in hepatic transaminase levels and myopathy; however, these effects are uncommon and generally resolve rapidly when treatment is stopped. The risk of myopathy with fibrate treatment is increased in patients with renal impairment, and the risk of myopathy with statin treatment increases with co-administration of drugs that inhibit statin metabolism or transport. Other adverse effects are related to specific drugs, for example, clofibrate is associated with an increased risk of gallstones. Studies in elderly patients have not shown an increased risk of adverse effects with lipid-lowering drugs compared with younger patients, but in clinical practice there may be some increased risk, particularly with regards to drug interactions. Therefore, lipid-lowering drugs should be administered with extra caution to elderly patients.

Safety and efficacy of atorvastatin in heart transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Pravastatin and simvastatin prolong survival and reduce transplant-related coronary vasculopathy, although low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering with these agents is only modest. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of moderate dose atorvastatin and its efficacy when prior treatment with another statin had failed to lower LDL to < 100 mg/dl.

METHODS

Data from 185 patients were retrospectively evaluated for adverse events, duration of exposure (person-days), and the mean atorvastatin dose exposure. Changes in lipid parameters, and prednisone and cyclosporine doses were determined.

RESULTS

SAFETY

48 patients received atorvastatin for 24,240 person-days at a mean dose exposure of 21 +/- 10 mg. Rhabdomyolysis, myositis, myalgias, and hepatotoxicity occurred in 0, 2, 2, and 0 patients, respectively. All events occurred at the 10-mg dose, within the first 3 months, and were rapidly reversible with atorvastatin discontinuation.

EFFICACY

Thirty-four patients evaluable for efficacy analyses had a pre-atorvastatin LDL of 145 +/- 38 mg/dl on the following statins: pravastatin (n = 30, 40 +/- 0mg), fluvastatin (n = 3, 33 +/- 12 mg), simvastatin (n = 1, 40 mg). After atorvastatin (21 +/- 9 mg/day) for 133 +/- 67 days, LDL was reduced to 97 +/- 24 mg/dl (relative reduction 31 +/- 20%, p < 0.0001). At the end of the observation period (418 +/- 229 days, atorvastatin final dose 24 +/- 14 mg/day), LDL was further decreased to 88 +/- 23 mg (relative reduction 37 +/- 17%, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Atorvastatin, when used at moderate doses and with close biochemical and clinical monitoring, appears to be safe and is effective in aggressively lowering LDL in heart transplant recipients when treatment with other statins has failed to achieve LDL goals.

Short-term effects of statin therapy in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia after liver transplantation: results of a randomized cross-over trial

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Hyperlipoproteinemia is frequent following liver transplantation and may lead to atherosclerosis. Lipid-lowering agents may be useful, but could interfere with the function of the transplanted organ and with immunosuppression. We therefore evaluated in a prospective, randomized, open-labeled cross-over trial the effect of two frequently used 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (pravastatin 10 mg d(-1) and cerivastatin 0.1 mg d(-1)) in hyperlipoproteinemic patients after liver transplantation.

METHODS

Sixteen patients (6.3 +/- 2.0 years post-transplantation, cyclosporine n = 11, tacrolimus n = 5) with hyperlipoproteinemia (cholesterol 246 +/- 42, triglycerides 191 +/- 87, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol 161 +/- 35, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol 44 +/- 11 mg d(-1)) were included. Treatment periods of 6 weeks were separated by a 4-week washout period.

RESULTS

Both medications were tolerated well, no effects on serum concentrations of liver enzymes or immunosuppressive agents were observed. Cerivastatin and pravastatin decreased (P < 0.001) cholesterol by 21 +/- 10% and 15 +/- 10%, LDL-cholesterol by 27 +/- 14% and 17 +/- 15%, respectively, while triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol concentrations did not change significantly. LDL/HDL-cholesterol markedly improved (P < 0.001) by 29 +/- 16% (cerivastatin) and 16 +/- 16% (pravastatin). Cerivastatin was more potent than pravastatin in patients receiving cyclosporine A, while there was no significant difference in patients receiving tacrolimus.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose cerivastatin and pravastatin significantly improve lipid profiles following liver transplantation without affecting liver function or immunosuppression.

The role of cytochrome P450-mediated drug-drug interactions in determining the safety of statins

The objectives of this review are to discuss the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoforms in drug metabolism, to explain differences in metabolism among the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (HMGs, statins), to review drug-drug and drug-food interaction studies dealing with the HMGs, to present case reports dealing with HMG-related myopathy, to discuss major clinical implications of these case reports and to express an opinion of use of HMGs in clinical practice.

Safety and efficacy of pravastatin therapy for the prevention of hyperlipidemia in pediatric and adolescent cardiac transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia is common after cardiac transplantation and it is a risk factor for post-transplantation coronary artery disease. Immunosuppression with corticosteroids and cyclosporine has been associated with hyperlipidemia. Pravastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been shown to be effective and safe for cholesterol reduction in adult heart transplant recipients. To our knowledge the safety and efficacy of pravastatin therapy in pediatric and adolescent heart transplant populations have not been previously analyzed. Therefore, we evaluated lipid profiles, liver transaminases, rejection data, and possible side effects in pediatric and adolescent cardiac transplant recipients treated with pravastatin.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 40 cardiac transplant recipients 10 to 21 years old (mean age 16.9 years). Twenty-two patients received pravastatin in addition to an immunosuppressive regimen of either cyclosporine or tacrolimus, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone. Serial determinations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides were available for all pravastatin-treated patients. Pre-treatment lipid values and hepatic transaminases were compared with those measured after therapy with pravastatin. Comparison of pravastatin-induced lipid reduction between groups treated with cyclosporine vs tacrolimus was also made.

RESULTS

Patients receiving pravastatin experienced a mean 32 mg/dl decrease in TC (p < 0.005) and a mean 31 mg/dl decrease in LDL (p < 0.005), regardless of their immunosuppressive regimen. No statistical differences occurred in the magnitude of mean lipid reduction induced by pravastatin between the groups treated with cyclosporine vs tacrolimus. No significant changes in hepatic transaminase levels were noted, and no clinical evidence of pravastatin-induced myositis occurred in any subjects.

CONCLUSION

Pravastatin therapy is effective and safe when used in pediatric and adolescent cardiac transplant recipients. Although the pravastatin-induced reduction in TC and LDL was more pronounced in patients receiving cyclosporine, the reduction was not statistically different from that in the tacrolimus group. No evidence of hepatic dysfunction or rhabdomyolysis in patients treated with pravastatin was noted. Long-term studies are required to evaluate the effect of pravastatin therapy on the incidence of accelerated coronary atherosclerosis in this population.