SAFTEY AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN OUTPATIENTS UNDER SELECTED STATIN THERAPY | ||||
Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences Assiut University | ||||
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 13 May 2025 | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/bfsa.2025.358821.2432 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Roj Majid Hussein1; Fouad Kasim Mohammad ![]() ![]() | ||||
1Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. | ||||
2College of Nursing, The American University of Kurdistan, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq | ||||
Abstract | ||||
The study examined potential side effects and changes in blood biochemical variables of hypercholesterolemia outpatients under prolonged statin therapy. Patients were sustained on single type statin therapy for ≥ 3 months. Their serum or plasma samples were subjected to biochemical analyses. The study included 68 patients of both genders. Statin intake were atorvastatin (61.8%), rosuvastatin (29.4%) and simvastatin (8.8%) for durations (mean ± SD) of 98.3 ± 66.4, 67.6 ± 54.6 and 106.0 ± 34.3 months, respectively. Main side effects experienced by the patients were whole body ache (22.1%), headache (17.6%), muscle pain (13.2%), dizziness (2.9%), and tachycardia (1.5%). Comorbidities were type-2 diabetes mellitus (72.1%), hypertension (27.9%), hypothyroidism (4.4%), and benign prostatic hyperplasia (1.5%). Additional medications intake were: metformin (64.7%), aspirin (38.2%), glimepiride (29.4%), amlodipine (13.2%), candesartan (13.2%), omeprazole (11.8%) and others (1.5%-7.4%). Liver enzymes and malondialdehyde level were not elevated. Triglycerides were elevated; low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins were reduced, whereas cholesterol levels remained at control levels (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), or reduced (simvastatin). High density lipoproteins were at control levels. Plasma but not erythrocyte cholinesterase activity of patients was significantly above the control value (18.4%). A significant association between high plasma cholinesterase activity and statin therapy was demonstrated. Most of blood biochemical parameters remained within normal ranges, indicating the efficacy and safety of statin therapy with minor side effects. Because of the increase in plasma cholinesterase activity, it is advisable to include this enzyme in blood biochemical monitoring of patients under statin therapy. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Atorvastatin; Rosuvastatin; Simvastatin; Plasma cholinesterase; Oxidative stress | ||||
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