Abstract
In the circulatory field, rapid or short-term effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been clinically reported to occur via their endothelial functions. However, some reports have also indicated that statins lower serum uric acid and we previously reported that pitavastatin had serum uric acid lowering effects with amelioration of renal function.
In the present study, we evaluated the rapid effects of a single dose of pitavastatin 2mg on uric acid, renal function, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in 12 subjects at baseline, 2, 4, 6 hours after treatment, compared with those values in 7 control subjects.
Serum uric acid was significantly decreased 2 and 4 hours after treatment and there were significant differences between treatment and control after 2 hours. Uric acid clearance (CUA) and calibrated urinary uric acid excretion were significantly increased 2 hours after treatment and there were significant intergroup differences. Serum creatinine was significantly decreased 2 and 4 hours after treatment, but there were no significant intergroup differences. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) was significantly increased 2 hours after treatment and there were significant differences from the control. Oxidative stress markers (8-OHdG and urinary isoprostane production rate) were decreased after treatment and there were significant differences in 8-OHdG between the treatment and control groups. There were no significant changes in the lipid profile, except for a decrease in the serum triglyceride revel.
Rapid and temporary effects of a single dose of pitavastatin on serum uric acid were found 2 hours after treatment. These phenomena were consistent with the increase of CUA, urinary uric acid excretion and Ccr. At the same time, oxidative stress markers were significantly decreased. Since these effects were not found in the control, the rapid effects may be induced not by hyperfiltration but by pleiotropic effects of pitavastatin without changing the lipid profiles.
