The efficacy and safety of ezetimibe and low-dose simvastatin as a primary treatment for dyslipidemia in renal transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy and safety of a combination of ezetimibe and low-dose statin as primary treatment for dyslipidemia in renal transplant patients were evaluated prospectively.


METHODS
The study enrolled 77 renal transplant recipients with dyslipidemia. They were given ezetimibe (10 mg) and simvastatin (10 mg) for 6 months as the initial treatment for dyslipidemia. Efficacy and safety were evaluated using lipid profiles, trough calcineurin inhibitor levels, allograft function, and adverse effects. The effects on proteinuria and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Ezetimibe and low-dose simvastatin significantly decreased the levels of total cholesterol (34.6%), triglyceride (16.0%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (47.6%), and 82.5% of the patients reached the target LDL-C level of <100 mg/dL. No significant change in the trough calcineurin inhibitor levels or allograft function occurred, and no serious adverse effects were observed. Fourteen patients (18.2%) discontinued treatment; eight patients (11.7%) developed muscle pain or weakness without an increase in creatinine kinase levels, and two patients (2.6%) developed elevated liver transaminase levels. The proteinuria and hsCRP levels did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Ezetimibe and low-dose statin treatment is safe and effective as a primary treatment for dyslipidemia in renal transplant patients.
Yoon
Hye Eun
HE
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Song
Joon Chang
JC
Hyoung
Bok Jin
BJ
Hwang
Hyeon Seok
HS
Lee
So Young
SY
Jeon
Youn Joo
YJ
Choi
Bum Soon
BS
Kim
Yong Soo
YS
Yang
Chul Woo
CW
D000328:Adult; D001384:Azetidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D001384:Azetidines; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019821:Simvastatin; D000069438:Ezetimibe