The acute effect of atorvastatin on proteinuria in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis

Background: Hyperlipidemia may develop early in the course of renal disease and statin treatment to lower lipid levels ill these patients is effective. In addition, it has been Suggested that proteinuria may decrease after prolonged periods of statin treatment. In the present Study, we set out to evaluate the short-term effect of atorvastatin after only six weeks of therapy. Material and methods: Plasma albumin, creatinine, creatinine clearance, proteinuria and lipid profiles were assessed it, 3 1 consecutive patients with glomerulonephritis and proteinuria > 0.3 g/24 h. All patients were treated with ACE inhibition for more than three months. Twenty patients consented to receive additional treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg daily in conjunction with a cholesterol-reducing diet, while I I patients received standard care. Analyses were performed at baseline and after six weeks. Results: After six weeks of treatment with atorvastatin urinary protein excretion was reduced from 1.80 g/24 h to 1.42 g/24 h (22%, p = 0.005), while no change was observed ill this parameter in the untreated patients over the same period. Plasma albumin did not change in treated Or ill untreated patients. Lipid and lipoprotein parameters improved ill all treated patients (all p <0.001). No correlation,vas observed between the percentual changes in lipids and proteinuria. Plasma creatinine and creatinine clearance did not change (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Six weeks of therapy with low-dose atorvastatin, added to ACE inhibition, resulted in a 22% decrease of proteinuria compared to untreated patients