Although statins affect mechanisms that lead to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), observational studies have failed to demonstrate a consistent effect of statin therapy on the risk of AKI after cardiac surgery. The Statin AKI Cardiac Surgery randomized control trial sought to determine if high-dose, short-term atorvastatin reduced the risk of AKI following cardiac surgery.  This double-blind, placebo-controlled, single center trial, evaluated high-dose perioperative atorvastatin on AKI in 615 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery, valvular heart surgery, or ascending aortic surgery.  The intervention arm received atorvastation 80mg the day prior to surgery, 40mg day of surgery, and 40mg daily for the duration of hospitalization. Patients were randomized with stratification for prior statin use, presence of chronic kidney disease (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2), and history or diabetes. The primary outcome of AKI was defined as an increase of 0.3mg/dL in serum creatinine or initiation of renal replacement therapy within 48 hours of surgery.  The study was terminated after a second interim analysis for concern of increased risk of AKI among statin naïve patients and for futility among patients who were previously on a statin.

Conclusion: High-dose statin therapy does not reduce the risk of AKI following cardiac surgery.

Summarized by Lauren E. Thompson and Steven M. Bradley

Billings FT 4th, Hendricks PA, Schildcrout JS, Shi Y, Petracek MR, Byrne JG, Brown NJ. High-Dose Perioperative Atorvastatin and Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA. 2016;315(9):877-888.