The summaries are free for public
use. The Chronic Liver Disease
Foundation will continue to add and
archive summaries of articles deemed
relevant to CLDF by the Board of
Trustees and its Advisors.
Abstract Details
Emerging role of statin therapy in the prevention and management of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and HCC
Hepatology. 2023 Dec 1;78(6):1896-1906. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000278.Epub 2023 Jan 3.
1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
2Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
3NAFLD Research Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
4Division of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Abstract
Statins, the most widely used lipid-lowering drugs, are increasingly recognized to have pleiotropic effects including anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties as well as effects on fibrogenesis and liver endothelial function. Given these pathophysiological effects, there is a growing interest in clinical use of statins in persons with cirrhosis. In this review, we summarize available data regarding the safety, adverse effects, and pharmacokinetics of statins in cirrhosis. We review clinical evidence, derived primarily from retrospective cohort and population-based studies, on the association between statin use and reduction in risk for hepatic decompensation and mortality in persons with established cirrhosis. We also review evidence to date regarding the effects of statins on portal hypertension and in chemoprevention of HCC. Finally, we highlight ongoing prospective randomized controlled trials that we expect will expand our understanding of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of statins in cirrhosis and guide clinical practice.