TITLE:
The Effect of Atorvastatin on Liver Function among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease in Gaza Strip
AUTHORS:
Mahmmoud H. Taleb, Ihab M. Almasri, Naima I. Siam, Ahmed A. Najim, Adham I. Ahmed
KEYWORDS:
Statins, Atorvastatin, Coronary Heart Disease, Liver Transaminases
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.5 No.8,
July
3,
2014
ABSTRACT: Statins, which are
inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, are considered
as one of the most important drugs and the drug of choice for reducing an
abnormal cholesterol level. Statins are normally used to decrease the risk of
coronary heart disease (CHD), but they tend to be associated with liver adverse
effects. The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the effect
of atorvastatin therapy on the liver function in patients with CHD. Study
comprised of 66 newly diagnosed CHD patients who were selected from UNRWA
clinics in the Gaza Strip. The patients were clinically examined and treated
with atorvastatin (10 - 40 mg/day). A questionnaire was used to collect the data
concerning patient’s characteristics. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides
(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C), liver enzymes tests such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total and direct blood bilirubin were
measured before starting treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. The
results showed a significant increase in the mean values of ALT, AST, total
bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels after 3 months then decreased after the
next 3 months, but they were higher than the baseline with insignificant
association.