QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Extracto Full Text PDF Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Articles Ahead of Print [Order Reprint] Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by de Denus, S. Articles by Spinler, S. A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by de Denus, S. Articles by Spinler, S. A

CARDIOLOGY

Dyslipidemias and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Prescription in Heart Transplant Recipients

at time of writing, Fellow in Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA; now, Fellow in Cardiovascular Research, Montreal Heart Institute; Invited Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Abdulrazaq Al-Jazairi, PharmD

at time of writing, Resident in Cardiovascular Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; now, Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Services, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Evan Loh, MD

at time of writing, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; now, Assistant Vice President of Cardiovascular and Infectious Disease, Wyeth Research, Collegeville, PA

Mariell Jessup, MD

Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Eric J Stanek, PharmD

at time of writing, Associate Professor, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; now, Associate Director, Medical Services, Medical Affairs Division, Kos Pharmaceuticals, Weston, FL

Sarah A Spinler, PharmD

Associate Professor, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Reprints: Sarah A Spinler PharmD, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 600 S. 43rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-4495, fax 215/596-8586, s.spinle{at}usip.edu

BACKGROUND: The treatment of dyslipidemias in orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) recipients is not highlighted in the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guidelines. Emerging data suggest that hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) safely reduce the risk of transplant rejection and coronary artery vasculopathy in OHT patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the proportion of patients from our institution reaching the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <100 mg/dL, evaluate the impact of statins in reaching this goal, and evaluate the prescribing practice for statins in US OHT centers.

METHODS: The management of dyslipidemia of OHT recipients followed at our institution was retrospectively evaluated. In addition, the use of statins in adult OHT centers in the US that performed 15 OHTs per year was assessed through a survey.

RESULTS: Of the 328 patients from our institution, 58.5% achieved an LDL-C <100 mg/dL. Patients prescribed statins were more likely to reach this goal (p < 0.01). A total of 85.0% of centers responding to the survey use statins as a part of their post-OHT protocol, primarily to reduce coronary artery vasculopathy (70.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: Due to the potential for improved outcomes, a large proportion of patients are prescribed a statin. Our results support previous findings that statins are safe and effective in reducing LDL-C in the management of dyslipidemias in OHT recipients. Nonetheless, dyslipidemias are suboptimally managed in many post-OHT patients.

Key Words: dyslipidemia, heart transplant, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

Published Online, May 18, 2004. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1D535

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. I. Paraskevas Applications of statins in cardiothoracic surgery: more than just lipid-lowering Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., March 1, 2008; 33(3): 377 - 390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R Burton, I. Burton, and G. J Pearson Clopidogrel-Precipitated Rhabdomyolysis in a Stable Heart Transplant Patient Ann. Pharmacother., January 1, 2007; 41(1): 133 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L Koshman, L. D Lalonde, I. Burton, W. J Tymchak, and G. J Pearson Supratherapeutic Response to Ezetimibe Administered with Cyclosporine Ann. Pharmacother., September 1, 2005; 39(9): 1561 - 1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]