Effect of simvastatin in the treatment of highly sensitized dialysis patients: the pre and post-renal transplantation follow-up outcomes

Abstract

The graft survival rates of sensitized kidney recipients have been shown to be lower than non-sensitized patients. Therefore, panel reactive antibody (PRA) and cross-match determination is accepted as mandatory screening for renal transplantation candidates. Our recent previous study has shown that simvastatin had a significant immunosuppressive effect in PRA-positive and/or crossmatch-positive patients. We present the pre and post-transplantation follow-up outcomes of simvastatin treatment in the highly sensitized dialysis patients. Thirty patients were followed for a mean period of 26 months. The PRA and flow cytometric measurements were performed at monthly intervals. Ten patients underwent successful kidney transplantation (eight living-related and two cadaveric). None of the patients developed hyperacute or acute rejection, and there was no graft loss during 19.8±6.2 months of post-transplantation follow-up. Of the 18 patients who stayed on dialysis throughout the study with PRA positivity, six were lost to follow-up and three spontaneously stopped taking the simvastatin. In the latter three cases, the PRA levels rose significantly after the drug was discontinued. Eight of the remaining nine PRA-positive patients showed significant drops in mean PRA level over the study period, and entered the range considered acceptable for transplantation. Only one patient showed persistently high PRA levels throughout the study. In one patient, the drug had to be discontinued due to acute toxic hepatitis. In conclusion, the results indicate that continuous simvastatin therapy effective in immunized and highly sensitized dialysis patients. Meanwhile, it has beneficial effect on 1-year graft survival in sensitized renal transplantation group.