Atorvastatin associated liver disease

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=16777499&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Dig Liver Dis. 2006 Jun 12; [Epub ahead of print]

Atorvastatin associated liver disease.

Clarke AT, Mills PR.

Gastroenterology Unit, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.

Atorvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, is widely used in the treatment
of dyslipidaemia. A transient rise in serum transaminases occurs in up to 3%
of patients using atorvastatin but this is usually self-limiting and
inconsequential. Recent literature has indicated some potential for more
serious but rare idiosyncratic reactions related to this drug. Seven
patients with significant liver dysfunction from one centre during 2002-2005
are reported, with one death, that raises some concern over the safety of
atorvastatin. A total of seven other patients are reported in the
literature. The 14 patients were usually over 60 years, had a female:male
ratio of 2:1 and showed a mixed cholestatic/hepatocellular reaction. The
mean interval to onset of reaction was approximately 9 weeks and the liver
often took several months to recover. Three deaths occurred. Adverse drug
reaction reports from the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines reveal that
four deaths due to hepatobiliary disease (0.5 deaths per annum) have been
reported in association with atorvastatin treatment over 8 years.
Simvastatin has had no hepatobiliary-related fatalities reported over 15
years. While acute hepatotoxicity with atorvastatin remains uncommon, any
persistent abnormality in liver function should be treated with caution.

PMID: 16777499 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]