Early Intake of Statin Tied to Reduced Progression of Kidney Disease

A new study finds that children with serious kidney disease benefit from early intake of statins, the cholesterol lowering drug.

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine highlight the first positive finding for children and young adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Researchers say that pravastatins help lower the growth of kidney cysts.

"Based on our findings, we strongly recommend consideration of pravastatin use in ADPKD children and young adults unless there is a medical reason against taking a statin as determined by the patients' doctor," says the co-principal investigator Melissa A. Cadnapaphornchai, MD, from CU School of Medicine's departments of pediatrics & medicine, who conducted the study with Robert W. Schrier, MD, at the CU School of Medicine. "This is very exciting news as this is the first medication shown to help control kidney disease in ADPKD children."

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary cystic kidney disease.  It is also known as the most life threatening single-gene disease that affects over 500,000 individuals in the U.S. and 12 million people globally.  It is listed as the fourth leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S.  This genetic condition is characterized by progressive kidney enlargement due to the growth of kidney cyst, which disrupts the functioning of kidney over time. 

At a certain period of time, ADPKD was called 'adult' polycystic kidney disease, but the clinical manifestations may be present in childhood and utero. Due to this, the researchers point to the need for early intervention in childhood and this may offer a long term effect on the progression of disease.

"Based on our findings, we strongly recommend consideration of pravastatin use in ADPKD children and young adults unless there is a medical reason against taking a statin as determined by the patients' doctor," says the co-principal investigator Melissa A. Cadnapaphornchai, MD, from CU School of Medicine's departments of pediatrics & medicine, who conducted the study with Robert W. Schrier, MD, at the CU School of Medicine. "This is very exciting news as this is the first medication shown to help control kidney disease in ADPKD children."

The three-year study was conducted on 110 children and young adults of ages 8-22 with ADPKS. The  study ended with 92 participants. The researchers randomly distributed pravastatin or placebo among the participants. 

The researchers noticed that those who received pravastatin had no significant side effects.  But this drug should not be used during pregnancy.

The study researchers make it clear that pravastatin is not approved by FDA.

The finding was documented in the Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology.