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Shaffer LR, Mahmud N. Statins in Cirrhosis: Hope or Hype? J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:1032-1046. [PMID: 37975036 PMCID: PMC10643276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, studies have demonstrated the benefits of statins in a range of chronic diseases separate from cardiovascular outcomes. Early studies in the context of chronic liver disease have suggested favorable effects of statins leading to slowed fibrosis progression, reduced portal pressures, decreased rates of hepatic decompensation, and improved survival. This has increased interest in the potential role that statins may have in the management of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, though many questions remain unanswered, including concerns regarding the safety of higher dose statins in patients with advanced decompensated cirrhosis. In this review, we provide an update on the current literature addressing the use of statins in patients with cirrhosis and highlight areas in which additional studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Shaffer
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nadim Mahmud
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Gastroenterology Section, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard David Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Statins in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients: Do Comorbidities and Characteristics Matter? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169326. [PMID: 36012589 PMCID: PMC9409457 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) morbidity and mortality are decreasing in high-income countries, but ASCVD remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in high-income countries. Over the past few decades, major risk factors for ASCVD, including LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), have been identified. Statins are the drug of choice for patients at increased risk of ASCVD and remain one of the most commonly used and effective drugs for reducing LDL cholesterol and the risk of mortality and coronary artery disease in high-risk groups. Unfortunately, doctors tend to under-prescribe or under-dose these drugs, mostly out of fear of side effects. The latest guidelines emphasize that treatment intensity should increase with increasing cardiovascular risk and that the decision to initiate intervention remains a matter of individual consideration and shared decision-making. The purpose of this review was to analyze the indications for initiation or continuation of statin therapy in different categories of patient with high cardiovascular risk, considering their complexity and comorbidities in order to personalize treatment.
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Yu Z, Guo J, Liu Y, Wang M, Liu Z, Gao Y, Huang L. Nano delivery of simvastatin targets liver sinusoidal endothelial cells to remodel tumor microenvironment for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:9. [PMID: 34983554 PMCID: PMC8725360 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01205-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in fibrotic liver does not respond well to immunotherapy, mainly due to the stromal microenvironment and the fibrosis-related immunosuppressive factors. The characteristic of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in contributing to fibrosis and orchestrating immune response is responsible for the refractory to targeted therapy or immunotherapy of HCC. We aim to seek a new strategy for HCC treatment based on an old drug simvastatin which shows protecting effect on LSEC. METHOD The features of LSECs in mouse fibrotic HCC model and human HCC patients were identified by immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of simvastatin on LSECs and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was examined by immunoblotting, quantitative RT-PCR and RNA-seq. LSEC-targeted delivery of simvastatin was designed using nanotechnology. The anti-HCC effect and toxicity of the nano-drug was evaluated in both intra-hepatic and hemi-splenic inoculated mouse fibrotic HCC model. RESULTS LSEC capillarization is associated with fibrotic HCC progression and poor survival in both murine HCC model and HCC patients. We further found simvastatin restores the quiescence of activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) via stimulation of KLF2-NO signaling in LSECs, and up-regulates the expression of CXCL16 in LSECs. In intrahepatic inoculated fibrotic HCC mouse model, LSEC-targeted nano-delivery of simvastatin not only alleviates LSEC capillarization to regress the stromal microenvironment, but also recruits natural killer T (NKT) cells through CXCL16 to suppress tumor progression. Together with anti-programmed death-1-ligand-1 (anti-PD-L1) antibody, targeted-delivery of simvastatin achieves an improved therapeutic effect in hemi-splenic inoculated advanced-stage HCC model. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal an immune-based therapeutic mechanism of simvastatin for remodeling immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, therefore providing a novel strategy in treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Yu
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Liver Disease, Shuguang Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jianfeng Guo
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Menglin Wang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zhengsheng Liu
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Department of Liver Disease, Shuguang Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Leaf Huang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Verma K, Makwana S, Paliwal S, Paliwal V, Jain S, Paliwal S, Sharma S. Simvastatin ameliorates oxidative stress levels in HepG2 cells and hyperlipidemic rats. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2022; 3:100088. [PMID: 35146420 PMCID: PMC8818901 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2022.100088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simvastatin is an established anti-hyperlipidemic drug and few studies have indicated its role in the mitigation of oxidative stress. However, a systematic study considering molecular binding/interaction of simvastatin with anti-oxidant enzymes followed by confirmational in vitro and in vivo studies have never been done. We investigated the molecular binding of simvastatin with multiple anti-oxidant enzymes and assessed their levels after the treatment of simvastatin in vitro and in vivo. This study is the first to show the molecular binding of simvastatin to catalase through molecular docking analysis. Moreover, the anti-oxidative properties of simvastatin have not been studied in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. We found that simvastatin effectively attenuated oxidative stress in LPS induced HepG2 cells and high-fat diet (HFD) fed hyperlipidemic rats by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) both increased significantly in oxidatively stressed HepG2 cells after the treatment with simvastatin (10 μM, 24 h). In addition to this, he original cell morphology of oxidatively stressed cells was restored by simvastatin, and an increase in antioxidant enzymes, catalase (0.08 U/cells to 0.12 U/cells), and SOD (0.57 U/cells to 0.74 U/cells) was also noted in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, a significant increase in the antioxidant enzymes such as Catalase, SOD, and reduced glutathione (GSH) was noted after simvastatin treatment in the HFD model. Moreover, we also observed degradation of by-products of lipid peroxidation thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), nitric oxide (NO), and protein carbonyl levels. This indicates that simvastatin enhances anti-oxidant enzyme activities and can be repurposed for the treatment of oxidative stress in liver diseases in humans after extensive clinical trials. In silico, molecular docking analysis shows that simvastatin binds to the active site of the catalase enzyme. Simvastatin attenuates LPS induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells by increasing the amount of antioxidant enzymes catalase and SOD. Simvastatin significantly reduces triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and increases HDL level in HFD induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Simvastatin can be repurposed for the treatment of oxidative stress in liver diseases.
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Kronborg TM, Ytting H, Hobolth L, Møller S, Kimer N. Novel Anti-inflammatory Treatments in Cirrhosis. A Literature-Based Study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:718896. [PMID: 34631742 PMCID: PMC8495012 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.718896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cirrhosis is a disease characterised by multiple complications and a poor prognosis. The prevalence is increasing worldwide. Chronic inflammation is ongoing in liver cirrhosis. No cure for the inflammation is available, and the current treatment of liver cirrhosis is only symptomatic. However, several different medical agents have been suggested as potential healing drugs. The majority are tested in rodents, but few human trials are effectuated. This review focuses on medical agents described in the literature with supposed alleviating and curing effects on liver cirrhosis. Twelve anti-inflammatory, five antioxidative, and three drugs with effects on gut microflora and the LPS pathway were found. Two drugs not categorised by the three former categories were found in addition. In total, 42 rodent studies and seven human trials were found. Promising effects of celecoxib, aspirin, curcumin, kahweol, pentoxifylline, diosmin, statins, emricasan, and silymarin were found in cirrhotic rodent models. Few indices of effects of etanercept, glycyrrhizin arginine salt, and mitoquinone were found. Faecal microbiota transplantation is in increasing searchlight with a supposed potential to alleviate cirrhosis. However, human trials are in demand to verify the findings in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thit Mynster Kronborg
- Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Amager-Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Henriette Ytting
- Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Amager-Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Lise Hobolth
- Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Amager-Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Søren Møller
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine 260, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nina Kimer
- Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Amager-Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Muñoz AE, Pollarsky FD, Marino M, Cartier M, Vázquez H, Salgado P, Romero G. Addition of statins to the standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis: Safety and efficacy. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:4639-4652. [PMID: 34366626 PMCID: PMC8326251 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i28.4639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the safety and efficacy of statins in patients with cirrhosis. Due to concerns about the safety of statins in patients with impaired liver function, they have recently been investigated as a potential treatment option in cirrhosis. The most clinically significant adverse event is statin-related myopathy, and this may be related to the high serum statin concentrations in the setting of severely impaired liver function. Rhabdomyolysis is the most serious and potentially life-threatening manifestation. It has recently been demonstrated that the recommended dose of simvastatin in patients with decompensated cirrhosis would be 20 mg/d because higher values, such as 40 mg/d, are associated with many adverse events, especially muscle injury. Likewise, simvastatin should not be administered to patients with Model for End-stage Liver Disease score > 12 and/or Child-Pugh class C because of the high risk of severe muscle injury. Due to the pleiotropic effects, the focus on statins has shifted from being considered harmful to something useful. Through these effects, statins could prevent liver-related morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Observational studies in large populations of patients with cirrhosis have shown that treatment with statins to decrease high cholesterol levels was associated with a reduced risk of hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma development and death. The few randomized controlled trials in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension showed that statins lower portal pressure, quite likely through a reduction in hepatic resistance. Another large randomized controlled trial in patients with variceal bleeding showed that simvastatin in addition to standard of care did not prevent rebleeding but improved survival rate. Despite these encouraging outcomes, the quality of the evidence regarding the use of statins is low or very low due to the observational characteristics of most of the studies involved. Therefore, it is advisable to perform further randomized controlled trials on a large series of patients with hard clinical endpoints, using different statin types and varying doses. The objectives would be to prevent liver-related morbidity and mortality rather than treating cirrhosis complications to take additional information that makes it possible to add statins to the standard of care of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto E Muñoz
- Sección Hepatología, Hospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1264, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
| | - Florencia D Pollarsky
- Sección Hepatología, Hospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1264, Argentina
| | - Mónica Marino
- Sección Hepatología, Hospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1264, Argentina
| | - Mariano Cartier
- Sección Hepatología, Hospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1264, Argentina
| | - Horacio Vázquez
- Unidad Clínica, Hospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Investigador Asociado del Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1264, Argentina
| | - Pablo Salgado
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1122, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Romero
- Sección Hepatología, Hospital de Gastroenterología Dr. Carlos Bonorino Udaondo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1264, Argentina
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Ortega‐Ribera M, Hunt NJ, Gracia‐Sancho J, Cogger VC. The Hepatic Sinusoid in Aging and Disease: Update and Advances From the 20th Liver Sinusoid Meeting. Hepatol Commun 2020; 4:1087-1098. [PMID: 32626839 PMCID: PMC7327202 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This is a meeting report of the 2019 Liver Sinusoid Meeting, 20th International Symposium on Cells of the Hepatic Sinusoid, held in Sydney, Australia, in September 2019. The meeting, which was organized by the International Society for Hepatic Sinusoidal Research, provided an update on the recent advances in the field of hepatic sinusoid cells in relation to cell biology, aging, and liver disease, with particular focus on the molecular and cellular targets involved in hepatic fibrosis, nonalcoholic hepatic steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cirrhosis. In addition, the meeting highlighted the recent advances in regenerative medicine, targeted nanotechnologies, therapeutics, and novel methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martí Ortega‐Ribera
- Liver Vascular Biology Research GroupBarcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic UnitInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i SunyerCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y DigestivasBarcelonaSpain
| | - Nicholas J. Hunt
- Centre for Education and Research on AgeingConcord Repatriation General HospitalANZAC Research InstituteAustralian Ageing and Alzheimers InstituteConcordSydneyNSWAustralia
- Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Jordi Gracia‐Sancho
- Liver Vascular Biology Research GroupBarcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic UnitInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i SunyerCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y DigestivasBarcelonaSpain
- HepatologyDepartment of Biomedical ResearchUniversity of BernInselspitalBernSwitzerland
| | - Victoria C. Cogger
- Centre for Education and Research on AgeingConcord Repatriation General HospitalANZAC Research InstituteAustralian Ageing and Alzheimers InstituteConcordSydneyNSWAustralia
- Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
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Bosch J, Gracia-Sancho J, Abraldes JG. Cirrhosis as new indication for statins. Gut 2020; 69:953-962. [PMID: 32139553 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the recent years, there have been an increasing number of reports on favourable effects of statins in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. These include reduction in portal pressure, improved liver sinusoidal endothelial and hepatic microvascular dysfunction, decreased fibrogenesis, protection against ischaemia/reperfusion injury, safe prolongation of ex vivo liver graft preservation, reduced sensitivity to endotoxin-mediated liver damage, protection from acute-on-chronic liver failure, prevention of liver injury following hypovolaemic shock and preventing/delaying progression of cirrhosis of any aetiology. Moreover, statins have been shown to have potential beneficial effects in the progression of other liver diseases, such as chronic sclerosing cholangitis and in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of these many theoretically favourable effects, statins have evolved from being considered a risk to kind of wonder drugs for patients with chronic liver diseases. The present article reviews the current knowledge on the potential applications of statins in chronic liver diseases, from its mechanistic background to objective evidence from clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Bosch
- Inselspital Universitatsspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland .,Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Inselspital Universitatsspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland .,Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan G Abraldes
- Division of Gastroenterology (Liver Unit), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Safety of two different doses of simvastatin plus rifaximin in decompensated cirrhosis (LIVERHOPE-SAFETY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 5:31-41. [PMID: 31607677 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(19)30320-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Statins have beneficial effects on intrahepatic circulation and decrease portal hypertension and rifaximin modulates the gut microbiome and might prevent bacterial translocation in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, this drug combination might be of therapeutic benefit in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. However, there is concern regarding the safety of statins in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. We assessed the safety of two different doses of simvastatin, in combination with rifaximin, in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and moderate-to-severe liver failure from nine university hospitals in six European countries (Italy, France, Holland, Germany, the UK, and Spain). Patients older than 18 years with Child-Pugh class B or C disease were eligible. We randomly assigned patients (1:1:1) to receive either simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin 1200 mg/day, simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin 1200 mg/day, or placebo of both medications for 12 weeks. Randomisation was stratified according to Child-Pugh class (B vs C) and restricted using blocks of multiples of three. The primary endpoint was development of liver or muscle toxicity, as defined by changes in liver aminotransferases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]), alkaline phosphastase, and creatine kinase. The study is registered with the European Union Clinical Trials Register, 2016-004499-23, and with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03150459. FINDINGS The study recruitment period was between July 28, 2017, and Jan 2, 2018. Follow-up finished on March 12, 2018. 50 patients were randomly assigned to simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin 1200 mg/day (n=18), simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin 1200 mg/day (n=16), or placebo of both medications (n=16). Six patients (two from each group) were excluded. Therefore, the full analysis set included 44 patients (16 in the simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin 1200 mg/day group, 14 in the simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin mg/day group, and 14 in the placebo group). After a safety analyses when the first ten patients completed treatment, treatment was stopped prematurely in the simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin group due to recommendations by the data safety monitoring board. Patients in the simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin group showed a significant increase in AST and ALT compared with the placebo group (mean differences between the groups at the end of treatment for AST 130 IU/L [95% CI 54 to 205; p=0·0009] and for ALT 61 IU/L [22 to 100; p=0·0025]. We observed no significant differences at 12 weeks in AST and ALT between the simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin and placebo group (for AST -14 IU/L [-91 to 64; p=0·728] and for ALT -8 IU/L [-49 to 33; p=0·698]). We observed no significant differences in alkaline phosphatase between the the simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin or the simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin groups compared with placebo. Patients in the simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin group showed an increase in creatine kinase at the end of treatment compared with patients in the placebo group (1009 IU/L [208 to 1809]; p=0·014). We observed no significant changes in creatine kinase in the simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin group (4·2 IU/L [-804 to 813]; p=0·992). Three (19%) patients in the simvastatin 40 mg/day group developed liver and muscle toxicity consistent with rhabdomyolysis. The number of patients who stopped treatment because of adverse events was significantly higher in the simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin group (nine [56%] of 16 patients) compared with the other two groups (two [14%] of 14 for both groups; p=0·017). There were no serious unexpected adverse reactions reported during the study. INTERPRETATION Treatment with simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rifaximin in patients with decompensated cirrhosis was associated with a significant increase in adverse events requiring treatment withdrawal, particularly rhabdomyolysis, compared with simvastatin 20 mg/day plus rifaximin. We recommend simvastatin 20 mg/day as the dose to be used in studies investigating the role of statins in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. FUNDING Horizon 20/20 European programme.
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Wan S, Huang C, Zhu X. Systematic review with a meta-analysis: clinical effects of statins on the reduction of portal hypertension and variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic patients. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e030038. [PMID: 31315875 PMCID: PMC6661584 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Statins may improve outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of statins on patients with cirrhosis and related complications, especially portal hypertension and variceal haemorrhage. METHODS Studies were searched in the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library databases up to February 2019. The outcomes of interest were associations between statin use and improvement in portal hypertension (reduction >20% of baseline or <12 mm Hg) and the risk of variceal haemorrhage. The relative risk (RR) with a 95% CI was pooled and calculated using a random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the characteristics of the studies. RESULTS Eight studies (seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and one observational study) with 3195 patients were included. The pooled RR for reduction in portal hypertension was 1.91 (95% CI, 1.04 to 3.52; I2=63%) in six RCTs. On subgroup analysis of studies that used statin for 1 month, the RR was 2.01 (95% CI, 1.31 to 3.10; I2=0%); the pooled RR for studies that used statins for 3 months was 3.76 (95% CI, 0.36 to 39.77; I2=75%); the pooled RR for studies that used non-selective beta-blockers in the control group was 1.42 (95% CI, 0.82 to 2.45; I2=64%); the pooled RR for studies that used a drug that was not reported in the control group was 4.21 (95% CI, 1.52 to 11.70; I2=0%); the pooled RR for studies that used simvastatin was 2.20 (95% CI, 0.92 to 5.29; I2=69%); RR for study using atorvastatin was 1.82 (95% CI, 1.00 to 3.30). For the risk of a variceal haemorrhage, the RR based on an observational study was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.23 to 0.94); in two RCTs, the pooled RR was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.52 to 1.50; I2=0%). Overall, the summed RR was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.42 to 0.99; I2=6%). CONCLUSION Statins may improve hypertension and decrease the risk of variceal haemorrhage according to our assessment. However, further and larger RCTs are needed to confirm this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizhe Wan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Chenkai Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuan Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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Kockerling D, Nathwani R, Forlano R, Manousou P, Mullish BH, Dhar A. Current and future pharmacological therapies for managing cirrhosis and its complications. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:888-908. [PMID: 30833797 PMCID: PMC6397723 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i8.888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the restrictions of liver transplantation, complication-guided pharmacological therapy has become the mainstay of long-term management of cirrhosis. This article aims to provide a complete overview of pharmacotherapy options that may be commenced in the outpatient setting which are available for managing cirrhosis and its complications, together with discussion of current controversies and potential future directions. PubMed/Medline/Cochrane Library were electronically searched up to December 2018 to identify studies evaluating safety, efficacy and therapeutic mechanisms of pharmacological agents in cirrhotic adults and animal models of cirrhosis. Non-selective beta-blockers effectively reduce variceal re-bleeding risk in cirrhotic patients with moderate/large varices, but appear ineffective for primary prevention of variceal development and may compromise renal function and haemodynamic stability in advanced decompensation. Recent observational studies suggest protective, haemodynamically-independent effects of beta-blockers relating to reduced bacterial translocation. The gut-selective antibiotic rifaximin is effective for secondary prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy; recent small trials also indicate its potential superiority to norfloxacin for secondary prevention of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Diuretics remain the mainstay of uncomplicated ascites treatment, and early trials suggest alpha-adrenergic receptor agonists may improve diuretic response in refractory ascites. Vaptans have not demonstrated clinical effectiveness in treating refractory ascites and may cause detrimental complications. Despite initial hepatotoxicity concerns, safety of statin administration has been demonstrated in compensated cirrhosis. Furthermore, statins are suggested to have protective effects upon fibrosis progression, decompensation and mortality. Evidence as to whether proton pump inhibitors cause gut-liver-brain axis dysfunction is conflicting. Emerging evidence indicates that anticoagulation therapy reduces incidence and increases recanalisation rates of non-malignant portal vein thrombosis, and may impede hepatic fibrogenesis and decompensation. Pharmacotherapy for cirrhosis should be implemented in accordance with up-to-date guidelines and in conjunction with aetiology management, nutritional optimisation and patient education.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kockerling
- Liver Unit/Division of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Rooshi Nathwani
- Liver Unit/Division of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Roberta Forlano
- Liver Unit/Division of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Pinelopi Manousou
- Liver Unit/Division of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin H Mullish
- Liver Unit/Division of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Ameet Dhar
- Liver Unit/Division of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
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Pose E, Trebicka J, Mookerjee RP, Angeli P, Ginès P. Statins: Old drugs as new therapy for liver diseases? J Hepatol 2019; 70:194-202. [PMID: 30075229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, statins have pleiotropic effects, particularly anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and antifibrotic, that may be beneficial in some chronic inflammatory conditions. Statins have only recently been investigated as a potential treatment option in chronic liver diseases because of concerns related to their safety in patients with impaired liver function. A number of experimental studies in animal models of liver diseases have shown that statins decrease hepatic inflammation, fibrogenesis and portal pressure. In addition, retrospective cohort studies in large populations of patients with cirrhosis and pre-cirrhotic conditions have shown that treatment with statins, with the purpose of decreasing high cholesterol levels, was associated with a reduced risk of disease progression, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma development, and death. These beneficial effects persisted after adjustment for disease severity and other potential confounders. Finally, a few randomised controlled trials have shown that treatment with simvastatin decreases portal pressure (two studies) and mortality (one study). Statin treatment was generally well tolerated but a few patients developed severe side effects, particularly rhabdomyolysis. Despite these promising beneficial effects, further randomised controlled trials in large series of patients with hard clinical endpoints should be performed before statins can be recommended for use in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Pose
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jonel Trebicka
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Germany; European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Paolo Angeli
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Pere Ginès
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Catalonia, Spain.
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Tripathi DM, Vilaseca M, Lafoz E, Garcia-Calderó H, Viegas Haute G, Fernández-Iglesias A, Rodrigues de Oliveira J, García-Pagán JC, Bosch J, Gracia-Sancho J. Simvastatin Prevents Progression of Acute on Chronic Liver Failure in Rats With Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension. Gastroenterology 2018; 155:1564-1577. [PMID: 30055171 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cirrhosis and its clinical consequences can be aggravated by bacterial infections, ultimately leading to the development of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF), characterized by acute decompensation, organ failure, and high mortality within 28 days. Little is known about cellular and molecular mechanisms of ACLF in patients with cirrhosis, so no therapeutic options are available. We developed a sepsis-associated preclinical model of ACLF to facilitate studies of pathogenesis and evaluate the protective effects of simvastatin. METHODS Male Wistar rats inhaled CCl4 until they developed cirrhosis (at 10 weeks) or cirrhosis with ascites (at 15-16 weeks). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bile-duct ligation for 28 days or intraperitoneal thioacetamide for 10 weeks to induce cirrhosis. After induction of cirrhosis, some rats received a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce ACLF; some were given simvastatin or vehicle (control) 4 hours or 24 hours before induction of ACLF. We collected data on changes in hepatic and systemic hemodynamics, hepatic microvascular phenotype and function, and survival times. Liver tissues and plasma were collected and analyzed by immunoblots, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immuno(fluoro)histochemistry and immunoassays. RESULTS Administration of LPS aggravated portal hypertension in rats with cirrhosis by increasing the severity of intrahepatic microvascular dysfunction, exacerbating hepatic inflammation, increasing oxidative stress, and recruiting hepatic stellate cells and neutrophils. Rats with cirrhosis given LPS had significantly shorter survival times than rats with cirrhosis given the control. Simvastatin prevented most of ACLF-derived complications and increased survival times. Simvastatin appeared to increase hepatic sinusoidal function and reduce portal hypertension and markers of inflammation and oxidation. The drug significantly reduced levels of transaminases, total bilirubin, and ammonia, as well as LPS-mediated activation of hepatic stellate cells in liver tissues of rats with cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS In studies of rats with cirrhosis, we found administration of LPS to promote development of ACLF, aggravating the complications of chronic liver disease and decreasing survival times. Simvastatin reduced LPS-induced inflammation and liver damage in rats with ACLF, supporting its use in treatment of patients with advanced chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Mani Tripathi
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Vilaseca
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Erica Lafoz
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Héctor Garcia-Calderó
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriela Viegas Haute
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Biofísica Celular e Inflamação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil
| | - Anabel Fernández-Iglesias
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jarbas Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Biofísica Celular e Inflamação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil
| | - Juan Carlos García-Pagán
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaime Bosch
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain; Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain; Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
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