The effect of statins on cardiac allograft survival.
OBJECTIVE
In addition to having a lipid-lowering effect, statins also have an anti-inflammatory effect that may reduce allograft dysfunction by preventing cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and play an immunomodulatory role. We studied the effect of statins on cardiac allograft survival at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH).


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the patients undergoing heart transplantation at NTUH in the last 6 years. After transplantation, all patients received biochemical monitoring every month and echocardiographic examination regularly at NTUH. Protocol biopsy was performed in all except 18 pediatric patients. All patients received immunosuppressants, including tacrolimus or cyclosporine, everolimus or mycophenolate acid, and prednisolone. They were divided into statin and nonstatin groups according to whether or not a statin was taken.


RESULTS
At NTUH, from 2007 to 2012, 168 heart transplantations were performed. The ages of the patients ranged from 6 to 74 years old with male predominance. The etiology was mainly dilated cardiomyopathy (52.4%) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (39.3%), including 7 retransplantations from severe CAV with heart failure. Twenty-three patients (17%) suffered from acute rejection. The overall 1-year actuarial survival rate was 86% ± 2% and the 5-year survival rate was 79% ± 3%. Seventy-eight patients (57.4%) took statins and the statin group has a better 5-year survival rate and freedom from cardiac death survival rate (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that the use of statins after transplantation was associated with better survival.
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.
C-M
CM
Luo
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
N-K
NK
Chou
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
N-H
NH
Chi
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Y-S
YS
Chen
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
H-Y
HY
Yu
Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
C-H
CH
Chang
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
C-H
CH
Wang
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
C-I
CI
Tsao
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: wangp@ntu.edu.tw.
S-S
SS
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents