Atorvastatin does not induce glomerular or tubular dysfunction even at high doses.
The current analyses evaluated the effect of atorvastatin on biomarkers of renal function. Serum creatinine level and markers of tubular and glomerular function, including cystatin C, urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, urine and serum beta2-microglobulin, and urine albumin, were assessed in osteopenic postmenopausal women with mild dyslipidemia who received atorvastatin 20 mg, atorvastatin 80 mg, or placebo for 1 year. During the study, changes in serum creatinine levels were the same in all 3 treatment groups. Cystatin C levels remained unchanged in all groups at all time points. For the additional markers of renal function, median values at baseline and weeks 26 and 52 in both of the atorvastatin and the placebo groups were similar. Neither moderate- nor high-dose atorvastatin treatment for 1 year altered markers of glomerular and renal tubular function compared with placebo. These data indicate that in this patient population, atorvastatin, even at a high dose, does not interfere with renal tubular reabsorption of protein, induce renal tubular dysfunction, or alter glomerular filtration rate in humans.
Epstein
Murray
M
University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33125, USA. m.epstein@miami.edu
Leary
Elizabeth
E
Laskey
Rachel
R
Zuckerman
Andrea
A
Reed
David
D
Lowe
Wing
W
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine