Logo image
Lovastatin therapy for hypercholesterolemia in cardiac transplant recipients
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Lovastatin therapy for hypercholesterolemia in cardiac transplant recipients

Paul C. Kuo, James M. Kirshenbaum, John Gordon, Glenn Laffel, Pia Young, Verdi J. DiSesa, Gilbert H. Mudge and Douglas E. Vaughan
The American journal of cardiology, v 64(10), pp 631-635
15 Sep 1989
PMID: 2675584

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia (type II hyperlipidemia) after cardiac transplantation is common and may play a rote in the accelerated rate of coronary atherosclerosis seen following the procedure. However, conventional cholesterol-lowering drugs are either ineffective or contraindicated for use in transplant recipients. The presence of type II hyperlipidemia was identified in 11 cardiac transplant recipients during a mean follow-up period of 15 months (range 3 to 41) after transplantation. Lovastatin, at an initial dosage of 20 mg/day, was administered for a period of 1 year. The maximal dosage of lovastatin was 60 mg/day. All patients received maintenance dosages of immunosuppressive agents, including cyclosporine-A, prednisone and, in some instances, azathioprine. Lipid profiles, hepatic transaminases, serum creatinine, creatine kinase and cyclosporine-A serum trough levels were measured quarterly. Total cholesterol decreased by 27% (354 ± 50 vs 258 ± 36 mg/dl, p < 0.01) after 3 months and remained stable thereafter. Similarly, low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 34% (221 ± 51 vs 146 ± 40 mg/dl, p < 0.01) after 3 months and remained constant. Triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, hepatic transaminases, creatinine, creatine kinase and trough cyclosporine-A levels remained stable during the 1-year follow-up period. Lovastatin was uniformly well tolerated in this study group. When given in modest dosages, lovastatin appears to be a safe, effective and well-tolerated therapy for hypercholesterolemia in cardiac transplant recipients.

Metrics

3 Record Views
51 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Logo image