STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of liver function test (LFT) abnormalities with the use of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials of statins used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia or for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. SETTING: University research center. PATIENTS: A total of 49,275 patients from 13 trials. INTERVENTION: A literature search of published clinical trials was performed in MEDLINE (January 1966-March 2003) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry (first quarter 2003). Studies also were identified from the references of the trials and of published systematic reviews. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: For a trial to be included in the meta-analysis, its duration of follow-up had to be at least 48 weeks and the trial had to include at least 400 patients, with at least 200 treated with a statin. Trials conducted in transplant recipients were excluded. The proportion of patients having LFT abnormalities was low in both groups (statins 1.14% vs placebo 1.05%, odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.62, p=0.07). Only fluvastatin was associated with a significant increase in the odds of having LFT abnormalities (fluvastatin 1.13% vs placebo 0.29%, OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.1-11.6, p=0.04) compared with placebo, although this finding was based on only two trials. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support previous observations that pravastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin at low-to-moderate doses are not associated with a significant risk of LFT abnormalities. Additional data are required to determine whether other statins have a similar safety profile.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of liver function test (LFT) abnormalities with the use of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials of statins used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia or for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. SETTING: University research center. PATIENTS: A total of 49,275 patients from 13 trials. INTERVENTION: A literature search of published clinical trials was performed in MEDLINE (January 1966-March 2003) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry (first quarter 2003). Studies also were identified from the references of the trials and of published systematic reviews. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: For a trial to be included in the meta-analysis, its duration of follow-up had to be at least 48 weeks and the trial had to include at least 400 patients, with at least 200 treated with a statin. Trials conducted in transplant recipients were excluded. The proportion of patients having LFT abnormalities was low in both groups (statins 1.14% vs placebo 1.05%, odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.62, p=0.07). Only fluvastatin was associated with a significant increase in the odds of having LFT abnormalities (fluvastatin 1.13% vs placebo 0.29%, OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.1-11.6, p=0.04) compared with placebo, although this finding was based on only two trials. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support previous observations that pravastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin at low-to-moderate doses are not associated with a significant risk of LFT abnormalities. Additional data are required to determine whether other statins have a similar safety profile.
Authors: Rikki M Tanner; Monika M Safford; Keri L Monda; Benjamin Taylor; Ronan O'Beirne; Melanie Morris; Lisandro D Colantonio; Ricardo Dent; Paul Muntner; Robert S Rosenson Journal: Cardiovasc Drugs Ther Date: 2017-06 Impact factor: 3.727
Authors: Christopher G Rowan; Steven M Brunelli; Jeffrey Munson; James Flory; Peter P Reese; Sean Hennessy; James Lewis; Daniel Mines; Jeffrey S Barrett; Warren Bilker; Brian L Strom Journal: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf Date: 2012-03-16 Impact factor: 2.890