More potent lipid-lowering effect by rosuvastatin compared with fluvastatin in everolimus-treated renal transplant recipients
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
6-27-2014
Abstract
Background: Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Pharmacotherapy with mTOR inhibitors aggravates dyslipidemia, thus necessitating lipid-lowering therapy with fluvastatin, pravastatin, or atorvastatin. These agents may not sufficiently lower lipid levels, and therefore, a more potent agent like rosuvastatin maybe needed. Methods: We have aimed to assess the lipid-lowering effect of rosuvastatin as compared with fluvastatin in RTR receiving everolimus. Safety was assessed as the pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction potential of a rosuvastatin/everolimus combination in RTR. A 12-hour everolimus PK investigation was performed in 12 stable RTR receiving everolimus and fluvastatin (80 mg/d). Patients were then switched to rosuvastatin (20 mg/d), and a follow-up 12/24-hour PK investigation of everolimus/rosuvastatin was performed after 1 month. All other drugs were kept unchanged. RESULTS: In RTR already receiving fluvastatin, switching to rosuvastatin further decreased LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol by 30.2±12.2% (P<0.01) and 18.2±9.6% (P<0.01), respectively. Everolimus AUC0-12 was not affected by concomitant rosuvastatin treatment, 80.3±21.3 μg*h/L before and 78.5±21.9 μg*h/L after, respectively (P=0.61). Mean rosuvastatin AUC0-24 was 157±61.7 ng*h/mL, approximately threefold higher than reported in the literature for nontransplants. There were no adverse events, and none of the patients had or developed proteinuria. Conclusion: Rosuvastatin showed a superior lipid-lowering effect compared to fluvastatin in stable RTR receiving everolimus. The combination of everolimus/rosuvastatin seems to be as safe as the everolimus/fluvastatin combination. © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Transplantation
Volume
97
Issue
12
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Robertsen, Ida, Anders Åsberg, Tone Granseth, Nils T. Vethe, Fatemeh Akhlaghi, Mwlod Ghareeb, Espen Molden, Morten Reier-Nilsen, Hallvard Holdaas, and Karsten Midtvedt. "More potent lipid-lowering effect by rosuvastatin compared with fluvastatin in everolimus-treated renal transplant recipients." Transplantation 97, 12 (2014). doi: 10.1097/01.TP.0000443225.66960.7e.