Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rosuvastatin in subjects with hepatic impairment.

Objective: To assess the effect of chronic hepatic impairment on rosuvastatin disposition, pharmacodynamic activity and tolerability.

Methods: This was an open-label, non-randomised, parallel-group trial. Six subjects were enrolled in each of three hepatic-function strata: Child-Pugh class A (CP-A, mild impairment), Child-Pugh class B (CP-B, moderate impairment) and normal hepatic function; the latter two strata were age, weight, race, sex and smoking history matched. All subjects were given rosuvastatin 10 mg for 14 days.

Results: In subjects with CP-A, and in four of six subjects with CP-B, rosuvastatin steady-state AUC(0-24) and C(max) were similar to subjects with normal hepatic function (geometric mean values 60.7 ng h/ml and 6.02 ng/ml, respectively). Two of six subjects with CP-B who had the highest CP scores (i.e. the highest degrees of hepatic impairment) had the highest AUC(0-24) (128 ng h/ml and 242 ng h/ml) and C(max) (23.4 ng/ml and 96.7 ng/ml) values. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was decreased in all strata, but the response was more variable in the CP-B group. Rosuvastatin was well tolerated, and the safety profile was similar in subjects with hepatic impairment and normal hepatic function.

Conclusion: In most subjects with mild-to-moderate hepatic impairment, the steady-state pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin were similar to subjects with normal hepatic function (more extensive hepatic impairment may increase systemic exposure to rosuvastatin), and most had LDL-C reductions similar to subjects with normal hepatic function.