Atorvastatin preserves renal function in chronic complete unilateral ureteral obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The pleiotropic effects of hMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-metylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase inhibitors may provide renal protection in chronic kidney disease. We examined whether atorvastatin administration preserved renal function in rats with chronic unilateral ureteral obstruction.


METHODS
Renal clearance experiments were performed in sham operated rats and rats subjected to 3 or 12-day unilateral ureteral obstruction. Hemodynamics parameters and urinary microalbumin levels from the obstructed kidney were also measured. The rats were maintained on a regular diet or the same diet but supplemented with atorvastatin (50 mg/kg daily).


RESULTS
Atorvastatin administration did not alter plasma total cholesterol but it significantly decreased triglyceride levels. In sham operated and 3-day unilateral ureteral obstruction rats atorvastatin treatment did not have effects on the glomerular filtration rate or effective renal plasma flow and it also did not affect urinary microalbumin levels. In rats with 12-day unilateral ureteral obstruction the glomerular filtration rate but not effective renal plasma flow was significantly higher and urinary microalbumin was significantly lower in atorvastatin treated rats than in those without atorvastatin treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin treatment decreased microalbuminuria and helped preserve filtration function in chronic unilateral ureteral obstruction without altering plasma cholesterol levels, suggesting that pleiotropic renal protection is offered by this statin.
Michli
Eddie
E
Department of Urology, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11212, USA. emichli@yahoo.com
Gulmi
Frederick A
FA
Chou
Shyan-Yih
SY
Mooppan
Unni M M
UM
Kim
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin