title: Liver biochemistry abnormalities in a quaternary care lipid clinic database.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing at alarming rates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) on elevated liver enzymes in patients with hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with AST above 60 U/L prior to or during treatment with statin therapy at a quaternary care lipid clinic were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted. Patients were separated into two groups: Group 1--elevated AST prior to statin therapy; and Group 2--elevated AST during statin therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty six patients with one or more measurements of AST >60 U/L remained after exclusion criteria were applied. Ten of 13 (77%) group 1 patients had reduced AST levels after initiation of statin therapy. Thirty two of 33 patients (97%) in group 2 had transient AST elevations while on statin therapy; one patient had persistently elevated AST after initiation of treatment. There were no significant adverse events reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in patients with elevated AST resulted in normalization of AST levels. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors were safe in patients with mildly elevated AST. This may translate to use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. harwiesi@interchange.ubc.ca
authors: Holly A R
authors: HA
authors: Wiesinger
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Shah
authors: A
authors: A
authors: White
authors: E M
authors: EM
authors: Yoshida
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Frohlich
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sirrs
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gill
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases