Table 4.

Literature on statins and renovascular disease

Study	Design	Findings related to statin exposure
Animal studies
Chade et al.20,21	Porcine unilateral RVD model	Renoprotective effects: reduced renal fibrosis and remodelling; increased renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate
Zhu et al.22	Porcine unilateral RVD model	Cardioprotective effects: left ventricular hypertrophy prevented; myocardial perfusion increased; reduced microvascular remodelling
Laina et al.23	Rodent bilateral RVD model	Renoprotective effects: improved glomerular filtration rate, free water clearance, and fractional sodium excretion
Lavi et al.24	Porcine unilateral RVD model	Renoprotective effects: improved endothelial function, reduced renal oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis; attenuated endothelial progenitor cell apoptosis
Human studies
Khong et al.29	Case report (n = 1)	Marked regression of renal artery stenosis over 3 years following institution of statin therapy (and despite continued heavy smoking)
Basta et al.28	Case report (n = 1)	Marked regression of renal artery stenosis, including spontaneous remission of hypertension and renin levels
Bates et al.11	Cohort study (n = 748)	Reduced mortality over 11 year follow-up with statins (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.53–0.95)
Davies et al.25	Cohort study (n = 447)	Reduced restenosis after renal artery stenting as well as greater freedom from recurrent symptoms (hypertension and worsening renal failure) with statins; risk ratios not provided
Silva et al.26	Cohort study (n = 104)	Reduced all-cause mortality (HR 0.13; 95% CI 0.04–0.44) and renal mortality (HR 0.21; 95% CI 0.07–0.64)
Cheung et al.27	Cohort study (n = 79)	Reduced angiographic progression of RVD with statins (HR 0.28; 95% CI 0.10–0.77); increased likelihood of regression with statins (HR 4.88; 95% CI 1.32–19.4)

Multivariable-adjusted results were provided in the table above (wherever possible).