Effect of atorvastatin on inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is the commonest cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) under maintenance hemodialysis. Dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and low-grade inflammation with increased circulating cytokines are factors that increase the cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease, in addition to traditional risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. We aimed to investigate the possible anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Fifty-three stable adult hemodialysis patients were assigned into two groups (a drug group and a control group). Patients in the drug group received 20 mg of atorvastatin daily for 6 months. Serum levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured in both groups at baseline and at the end of the study period. Results Atorvastatin therapy caused a statistically significant decrease in levels of hs-CRP but no change in levels of IL-6 after 6 months of therapy. Conclusions In addition to its favorable effect on lipid profile parameters, atorvastatin therapy can be considered as an effective and safe modality to overcome the problem of chronic inflammation encountered in end-stage renal disease patients.

Keywords

• C-reactive protein
• Interleukin-6
• End-stage renal disease
• Inflammation