Combined treatment with low-dose pravastatin and fish oil in post-renal transplantation dislipidemia

• Published in: Nephron (2015) Vol. 88; no. 4; p. 329
• Main Authors: Grekas, D, Kassimatis, E, Makedou, A, Bacharaki, D, Bamichas, G, Tourkantonis, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-08-2001
• Subjects: Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Combined Modality Therapy; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Female; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Hyperlipidemias - blood; Hyperlipidemias - etiology; Hyperlipidemias - therapy; Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects; Lipids - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Pravastatin - administration & dosage; Pravastatin - therapeutic use; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1660-8151
• DOI: 10.1159/000046016

The most common cause of post-transplant dyslipidemia is the use of corticosteroids and cyclosporin-A (CyA). The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have emerged as the agents of first choice in the treatment of post-transplant hyperlipidemia in combination with low fat diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment with low-dose pravastatin and fish oil in post-renal transplantation dislipidemia.
Twenty-four renal transplant patients, 15 men and 9 women aged from 30 to 60 years with stable renal function were included in this study. All patients were transplanted from living related donors and were given a stable triple immunosuppressive therapy, with methylprednisolone, azathioprine and CyA. All patients were also given a standard diet containing 1 g/kg BW protein, reducing the daily fat to less than 30%, and maintaining at least a 1:1 ratio of saturated to polyunsaturated (or monounsaturated) fats. A dosage of 20 mg pravastatin (pravachol) and 1 g of fish oil (prolipid) were added to the diet after dinner, according to our protocol. Blood samples were taken after each study period for total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo A(1), Apo B, Lp(a), creatinine, CPK and fibrinogen determination.
At the end of the therapeutic protocol with pravastatin a significant reduction (p < 0.02) of total and LDL-cholesterol was observed, but no significant change in triglycerides, HDL, Lp(a), Apo A(1), Apo B and fibrinogen was shown. At the end of the therapeutic protocol with pravastatin and fish oil supplement significant changes were seen in TC (p < 0.02), TG (p < 0.03), LDL-C (p < 0.03), Apo A(1) (p < 0.04) and Apo B (p < 0.05) concentrations. There were no significant changes in HDL-C and Lp(a) concentrations. Renal function and cyclosporine levels were not changed during and after the study. CPK was increased only in one case.
It is suggested that if the response to the diet is inadequate, the use of combined treatment with low-dose pravastatin and fish oil is a more effective strategy than the pravastatin treatment alone for changing the lipid profile after renal transplantation.