Effects of statin treatment on uric acid homeostasis in patients with primary hyperlipidemia.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiologic studies have shown that serum uric acid is a risk factor of coronary artery disease. In addition to fenofibrate, there is some evidence that atorvastatin may have a hypouricemic action, but the underlying mechanisms remain speculative.


METHODS
This randomized trial was conducted to investigate the effects of atorvastatin and simvastatin on uric acid homeostasis in patients treated for primary hyperlipidemia. A total of 180 patients were enrolled; patients were randomly assigned to 40 mg/d of either atorvastatin or simvastatin. Serum lipid and metabolic parameters were measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment; random urine samples were simultaneously obtained for creatinine, sodium, and uric acid determinations.


RESULTS
Baseline serum uric acid levels correlated positively with the body mass index, serum insulin, creatinine, and triglyceride levels and inversely with serum HDL cholesterol levels. Both statins caused a favorable effect on lipids and a significant decrease in fibrinogen and high-sensitivity CRP levels. However, only atorvastatin reduced serum uric acid levels (from 5.6 +/- 1.7 to 4.9 +/- 1.5 mg/dL, P <.0001) by augmenting its urinary fractional excretion (from 10.4% +/- 7.9% to 12.0% +/- 7.4%, P <.01). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the reduction of uric acid levels was independently associated with baseline serum uric acid concentration but not to other variables, including lipid parameters (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.40; P =.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin (but not simvastatin) significantly lowered serum uric acid levels. This result may be in favor of a preferable choice of atorvastatin for the treatment of hyperlipidemic patients presenting with hyperuricemia.
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Haralampos J
HJ
Milionis
Anna I
AI
Kakafika
Sofia G
SG
Tsouli
Vasilios G
VG
Athyros
Eleni T
ET
Bairaktari
Konstantinos I
KI
Seferiadis
Moses S
MS
Elisaf
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D014527:Uric Acid; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin