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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
04:30
A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis
Published on: May 14, 2013
Statin therapy is not associated with improved vascular access outcomes
Roberto Pisoni1, Jill Barker-Finkel, Michael Allo
1Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.
Summary
Statin therapy did not improve outcomes for hemodialysis vascular access, including fistulas and grafts. Age was the only significant predictor of fistula failure in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Vascular Surgery
- Cardiology
Background:
- Neointimal hyperplasia is a primary cause of vascular access failure in hemodialysis patients.
- Statins have shown potential in reducing neointimal hyperplasia in experimental settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if statin therapy improves vascular access outcomes in hemodialysis patients.
- To compare fistula and graft success rates between patients on statin therapy and those not.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of a prospective vascular access database.
- Inclusion of 601 patients with upper-arm fistulas or grafts at a single dialysis center.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in primary fistula failure rates between statin users (37%) and non-users (38%).
- Higher primary graft failure in statin users (20%) vs. non-users (14%).
- Cumulative fistula and graft survival rates were similar regardless of statin use; age predicted fistula failure.
Conclusions:
- Statin therapy is not associated with improved fistula or graft outcomes in hemodialysis patients.
- Age is a significant predictor of fistula failure, while sex predicted primary fistula and graft failure in logistic regression.
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