Declining frequency of liver enzyme abnormalities with statins: experience from general practice in Jerusalem

OBJECTIVESafety data of statins have been collected from diverse ethnic populations. Drug effects, including adverse reactions, may depend on genetics and environment. We investigated liver enzymes in relation to statin treatment in a northeast Jerusalem Jewish community. METHODSA long-term laboratory follow-up of liver enzymes prestatin and poststatin introduction was conducted. Records of participants who received statins were reviewed. Prestatin and poststatin liver enzymes were compared by various statistical models. RESULTSTwo-hundred and sixty participants had mean follow-up of 25 months prestatin, and 26 months poststatin introduction. Sixty-six percent had hypertension, and 48% were diabetic. The frequency of liver enzyme abnormalities varied widely with time. Altogether, during pretreatment and posttreatment follow-up, 18.4 and 13.4% of measurements revealed abnormal (either cholestatic and/or hepatocellular) liver enzymes, respectively (P