[Can hyperlipidemia after heart transplantation be optimally and safely treated?]

"Is there any safe and optimal treatment of hyperlipidemia following heart transplantation?" The problem of hypercholesterolemia following heart transplantation if often underestimated. Up to now there is no concept of therapy allowing an optimal adjustment of lipid parameters. Therapeutical trials using ion exchange resins, derivatives of nicotinic acids and fibrates were not successful due to cyclosporine A interaction, hepatotoxicity and limited efficacy of the applied substances. In a prospective, randomized and controlled trial we investigated the effects of the HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitor simvastatin in heart transplant recipients. The study included 70 patients (simvastatin n = 37, control group n = 33). 8 patients died within the first three months following heart transplantation. Purpose of the study was the adjustment of the LDL-cholesterol values in the simvastatin treated group to < or = 110 mg/dl. Following 24 months of treatment a mean LDL-cholesterol plasma level of 110 mg/dl was obtained. The corresponding mean value of the control group was 150 mg/dl. The difference between both groups was significant (p < 0.001). In the same period the mean HDL-cholesterol values increased by approx. 15% in both groups (no significant difference [p > 0.05]). The ratio of LDL/HDL-cholesterol was significant lower in the simvastatin treated group (2.28) than in the control group (2.94) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in Lp(a) values. No adverse side effects were observed within the observation period of 24 months, particularly no increase in the frequency of rejection episodes. Summarizing the above, we recommend low-dose simvastatin therapy as a safe and optimal treatment of hypercholesterolemia following heart transplantation.