Organic Ion Transporters and Statin Drug Interactions

AbstractPurpose of ReviewStatin drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are both troublesome to patients as well as costly to medical resources. The ability to predict and avoid these events could lead to improved outcomes as well as patient satisfaction. This review will explore efforts to better understand and predict these interactions specifically related to one drug transport system, the organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) specifically OATP1B1 and OATP1B3.Recent FindingsSince the publication of the discovery of OATPs, there have been various pharmacokinetic models that have been proposed to explain the variation in pharmacokinetic and clinical effects related to the OATPs. The effects in transport activity appear to be partially related to the individual polymorphisms studied. Drug-drug interactions can occur when other drugs compete for the metabolic site on the OATPs. Various medications are identified as substrates and/or inhibitors of the OATPs, thereby complicating the ability to fully predict the impact on levels and effects. All of the models reviewed claim successes but show limited clinical utility.There are specific populations that have been identified, predominately various Asian descendants that require lower doses of statins to avoid adverse events. The concept of attributing these actions to the OATPs has been explored, but current models cannot accurately predict statin blood levels or elimination constants. The current research only points to the diffe...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research