The Efficacy and Safety of Ezetimibe and Low-Dose Simvastatin as a Primary Treatment for Dyslipidemia in Renal Transplant Recipients.
10.3904/kjim.2009.24.3.233
- Author:
Hye Eun YOON
1
;
Joon Chang SONG
;
Bok Jin HYOUNG
;
Hyeon Seok HWANG
;
So Young LEE
;
Youn Joo JEON
;
Bum Soon CHOI
;
Yong Soo KIM
;
Chul Woo YANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yangch@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ezetimibe;
Statin;
Dyslipidemias;
Kidney transplantation
- MeSH:
Adult;
Azetidines/*administration & dosage/adverse effects;
C-Reactive Protein/analysis;
Cholesterol, LDL/blood;
Dyslipidemias/blood/*drug therapy;
Female;
Humans;
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*administration & dosage;
*Kidney Transplantation;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Prospective Studies;
Simvastatin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2009;24(3):233-237
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: 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.
