Rosuvastatin increases alpha-1 microglobulin urinary excretion in patients with primary dyslipidemia.
The renoprotective effect of statins has been recently disputed because of observations of proteinuria associated with rosuvastatin treatment, the newest drug of the class. Statin-induced proteinuria findings were mainly based on crudely quantitative dipstick assays. The authors quantitatively evaluated the effect of rosuvastatin at the recommended starting dose of 10 mg/d, on urine protein excretion in patients with primary dyslipidemia. Serum lipid and nonlipid parameters as well as urinary electrolyte, creatinine, and protein (total, albumin, immunoglobulin G, and alpha-1 microglobulin) levels were measured in 40 patients treated with rosuvastatin and 30 controls at baseline and after 12 weeks. The protein-to-creatinine ratios were used to assess urinary protein excretion. Rosuvastatin improved the lipid profile, produced no deterioration of kidney function, but induced a small but significant increase in the excretion of alpha-1 microglobulin (by 16%, P < .05) indicating that statin-related proteinuria involves low-molecular-weight proteins and is of proximal tubular origin.
Kostapanos
Michael S
MS
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece.
Milionis
Haralampos J
HJ
Gazi
Irene
I
Kostara
Christine
C
Bairaktari
Eleni T
ET
Elisaf
Moses
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium