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Effects of statin treatment with atorvastatin on urolithiasis-associated urinary metabolic risk factors: an experimental study

  • Urology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate whether atorvastatin has favorable effects on urinary metabolic risk factors associated with urolithiasis.

Methods

Sixteen male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, and baseline spot and 24-h urine samples were collected. Distilled water and atorvastatin were administered to rats during 4 weeks in the control and atorvastatin groups, respectively. At the end of the experimental procedure, spot and 24-h urine samples were collected again. Citrate, oxalate, cystine, uric acid, calcium and magnesium levels were determined in 24-h urine samples. Citrate/creatinine, oxalate/creatinine, uric acid/creatinine, calcium/creatinine and magnesium/creatinine ratios were also calculated in spot urine samples. Comparison of the baseline and post-experimental levels of these parameters was made in each group.

Results

The majority of the parameters were similar before and after the experimental procedure in each group. In the atorvastatin group, uric acid and calcium levels were affected. Administration of atorvastatin was significantly decreased the levels of uric acid, whereas increased the levels of calcium (P = 0.025 and P = 0.017, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that atorvastatin has decreasing effect on UUa levels, whereas increasing effect on UCa levels. We think it cannot certainly be deduced that atorvastatin could be beneficial on overall urinary metabolic risk factors. Contrarily, atorvastatin may lead to an increased risk of calcium stones, but when considering its UUa decreasing effect, it may help in reducing the uric acid stone recurrence.

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Acknowledgements

We want to thank staffs of Experimental Animals Laboratory of Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital for their valuable supports during the experimental procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Catalca State Hospital, Ferhatpasa Mahallesi, Istanbul Cad., 34540, Catalca, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mustafa Zafer Temiz

  2. Department of Urology, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Emrah Yuruk, Kasim Ertas & Atilla Semercioz

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Oguzhan Zengi

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  1. Mustafa Zafer Temiz
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  2. Emrah Yuruk
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Correspondence to Mustafa Zafer Temiz.

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Temiz, M.Z., Yuruk, E., Ertas, K. et al. Effects of statin treatment with atorvastatin on urolithiasis-associated urinary metabolic risk factors: an experimental study. Int Urol Nephrol 50, 231–236 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-017-1762-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-017-1762-0

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