title: Statins can improve proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate loss in chronic kidney disease patients, further reducing cardiovascular risk. Fact or fiction?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is increasing worldwide. Statin treatment, the cornerstone of prevention or treatment of CVD, might have beneficial effects on urine protein excretion and renal function as determined by the glomerular filtration rate, whereas it might protect from acute kidney injury (AKI), mainly due to contrast-induced AKI. These beneficial effects on CKD may not be drug class effects; specific statins at specific doses may help prevent CKD deterioration and reduce CVD risk. We analysed all statin studies that had renal and CVD endpoints as main outcome measures. MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to February 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  We consider the effects of statins on microalbuminuria, proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate, AKI associated with angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention and on CVD event rates in patients with CKD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current evidence points towards the need to prescribe high-potency statins in patients with CKD, before a major decline in kidney function occurs. This may reduce CVD risk and delay the progress of CKD. Administration of either atorvastatin or rosuvastatin can prevent contrast-induced AKI before angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention. The combination of simvastatin + ezetimibe may decrease vascular events in patients with advanced CKD.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippocration Hospital, Medical School, Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine , Thessaloniki , Greece +30 2310 892606 ; +30 2310 835955 ; vathyros@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vasilios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Athyros
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsiki
authors.forename: Asterios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000517:prevention & control; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: cardiovascular disease; chronic kidney disease; event rates; glomerular filtration rate; microalbuminuria; proteinuria; statins