A Higher Strength Of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Did Not Increase The Risk Of Kidney Injury After Heart Attack

Date: Jun-21-2013A Higher Strength Of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Did Not Increase The Risk Of Kidney Injury After Heart Attack

Main Category: Statins

Also Included In: Cholesterol

Article Date: 21 Jun 2013 - 1:00 PDT

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A Higher Strength Of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Did Not Increase The Risk Of Kidney Injury After Heart Attack


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A higher strength of cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins, did not increase the risk of kidney injury among heart attack survivors, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Emerging Science Series Webinar.*

Statins have been shown to reduce the risk of a first or recurrent heart attack, but recent observational studies suggest that high doses may be linked to a higher incidence of kidney injury.

In this study, researchers analyzed data from two large clinical trials in which survivors were randomly assigned to receive either high- or low-dose statins. Higher strenght statins did not increase the risk of hospitalizations with kidney injury when compared to low-dose statins. In addition, concentrations of a blood protein, called creatinine, which reflects kidney function were comparable between the two groups during follow-up.

"These findings provide important reassurance to clinicians that the use of some high-potency statins will not increase the risk of kidney injury," said Amy Sarma, M.D., M.H.S., the study's lead author and a resident physician in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.