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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Effect of pravastatin on markers of endothelial activation in dialysis patients
Lisa S Jeffs1, Frances Skilton, Jodie Nitschke
1Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. lisa.jeffs@student.adelaide.edu.au
Aim:
The aim of this pilot study was to test the effect of pravastatin on serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), IL-6 and the soluble adhesion molecules sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin in chronic dialysis patients.
Methods:
At the commencement of the study, serum levels of lipids, liver function tests and endothelial markers (CRP, IL-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin) were measured. Patients then commenced 1 month of 10 mg of pravastatin per day, and if tolerated, then 4 months of 40 mg of pravastatin per day. Serum levels of lipids, liver function tests and endothelial markers were repeated after the total of 5 months of pravastatin therapy.
Results:
Thirty-nine patients were enrolled, and 25 (male/female 17/8; 21 haemodialysis, 4 peritoneal dialysis) patients completed the study. Pravastatin therapy significantly improved the patients' lipid profiles, but had no significant effect on the levels of CRP, IL-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, or sE-selectin.
Conclusion:
Short-term (5 months) treatment with pravastatin in patients receiving chronic dialysis improved their lipid profile, but had no significant effect on surrogate markers of endothelial activation.
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