Statins are drugs used to lower cholesterol levels. There are several types of statins, classified according to their affinity for fats (lipophilic: artovastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastine) or water (hydrophilic: rosuvastatin, pravastatin). These drugs can be administered to patients with liver disease to lower cholesterol levels, but their effects on the progression of liver disease are controversial.
A study was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) that aimed to determine the effect of statins (both lipophilic and hydrophilic) on liver diseases of various etiologies: hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and cryptogenic hepatitis.
The study included 3,160 patients treated with statins and 12,891 patients not receiving statin treatment. They found that the risk of developing liver cancer was 33% lower in patients taking statins compared to the rest. Similarly, the likelihood of suffering from a liver disease complication (bleeding, ascites, etc.) was 22% lower in patients treated with statins.
The type of statin influences the result
Regarding the effect of the type of statin used (lipophilic or hydrophilic), the authors found that in patients taking hydrophilic statins, the 10-year cumulative incidence of liver cancer was 4.1%, while in patients treated with lipophilic statins, the incidence was lower (3.7%), compared to 8% in those not taking statins. With respect to liver complications, the frequency of their appearance was lower in patients treated with lipophilic statins (11.2%) and in those treated with hydrophilic statins (7.9%) than in those not taking statins (19.5%).
Finally, this study also demonstrated that liver fibrosis improved in patients treated with statins, meaning that the liver disease regressed to less aggressive stages.
In summary, statins can positively influence the progression of liver disease, and both Dr. Carreño and the Foundation’s medical team believe that the potential role of statin treatment in preventing the progression of liver disease should be taken into account.
