Atorvastatin reduces microalbuminuria in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and normal glucose tolerance.
BACKGROUND
Anecdotal evidence indicates that significant lowering of LDL-cholesterol by means of LDL apheresis may reduce the level of microalbuminuria in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. We therefore examined whether treatment with the most potent LDL-lowering drug available (atorvastatin) has a similar effect on the level of microalbuminuria.


METHODS
In a case series, 100 patients with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia were started on 10 mg atorvastatin. 62 patients were switched to 40 mg atorvastatin once in the evening when the LDL-cholesterol treatment goals were not reached within 1 month.


RESULTS
Baseline serum creatinine clearance significantly improved after 1, 3 and 6 months, while serum urea and serum creatinine were unchanged. Blood pressure exhibited a lowering trend. After one month of treatment, the mean level of microalbuminuria was significantly improved in both dose regimens, showing further improvement after 3 months and stabilizing thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that significant lowering of LDL-cholesterol with atorvastatin may favorably affect kidney function, in particular microalbuminuria as a measure of endothelial function. It remains to be seen whether this effect can be attributed to lipid lowering alone.
Sinzinger
Helmut
H
Institute for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lipid Disorders and Atherosclerosis (ATHOS), Vienna, Austria. helmut.sinzinger@univie.ac.at
Kritz
Harald
H
Furberg
Curt D
CD
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003404:Creatinine