Evaluating the Proposed Mechanism by Which Atorvastatin Can Protect Renal Tissue against Contrast Media: An Animal study

Abstract

Contrast- induced nephropathy (CIN) isan elevation of serum creatinine of ≥ 0.5mg/dL from baseline after two to threedays of exposure to contrast substance ifthere is no other cause for acute kidneyinjury. Atorvastatin may protect normalkidney physiology from contrast- inducedkidney injury by effects unrelated to hypolipidemia termed pleiotropic effect by decline ofendothelin production, angiotensin system down regulation, and under expression ofendothelial adhesion molecules. This study was conducted to assess the strategy by whichatorvastatin can achieve protective effect for kidneys after exposure to contrast media in ananimal model. A 40 male rats were distributed randomly into 4 groups; ten rats for each:group (1): given normal saline; group (2): CIN group given iopromide as contrast media;group (3): given atorvastatin (20mg/kg) and iopromide; and group (4): given atorvastatin(40mg/kg) and iopromide. Blood collected by cardiac puncture for detection of serumglutathione, malondialdehyde, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and interleukin-18. The resultshave shown a significant increase in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in contrastmedia group, and significant reduction in these markers in atorvastatin treated groups, in adose-dependent manner. As conclusion, atorvastatin mechanism for protection against CIN ina dose-dependent manner can mediate by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects