title: Effect of atorvastatin on the cortical bones of corticosteroid treated rabbits.
abstract: Osteoporosis ("secondary" osteoporosis) and avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head are well-known adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy. Statins have been reputed to increase bone strength and bone density. In this study, we evaluated the effect of atorvastatin calcium on the flexural properties (3-point bending strength and modulus) of corticosteroid (methylprednisolone acetate) treated rabbit femurs and tibias. Our study hypothesis was that the use of statins would counteract the loss of bone strength caused by corticosteroid treatment. The 40 rabbits were divided into 5 groups: control, corticosteroid alone and corticosteroid combined with oral doses of atorvastatin calcium (2, 10, or 20 mg/day). A daily oral dose of atorvastatin calcium treatment for 70 days weakened the long bones of methylprednisolone acetate treated rabbits irrespective of the dosage (2, 10, or 20 mg). Cortical bone strength was assessed using the 3-point bending test at the end of the study period. A daily oral dose of atorvastatin calcium did not attenuate the loss of cortical bone strength caused by corticosteroid treatment in rabbits. It appeared to decrease that bone strength. If these results hold true in humans, they would have wide applicability given the frequent combined use of corticosteroids and statins in many patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141, USA. handalj@einstein.edu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Handal
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Jasvir S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: Minn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saing
authors.forename: Leonard E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Braitman
authors.forename: Solomon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Samuel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013977:Tibia / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008775:Methylprednisolone