ABSTRACT:
Objective: This experimental study aimed to evaluate the statin-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats, as well as to compare the potential hepatotoxicity between atorvastatin and simavastatin through evaluation of both biochemical and histopathological parameters. Materials & Methods: 60 male albino rats were used in this study and were equally divided into three groups. The control group received only saline orally, the atorvastatin group which received (80 mg/kg) orally, and the simavastatin group which received simavastatin (80 mg/kg) orally. The study was conducted over a period of 12 weeks and at the end blood samples and liver tissues were obtained for assessment of biochemical markers of the liver and histopathological examination. Results: All the biochemical parameters in the current study showed higher values in the atorvastatin and simvastatin groups compared to the control group with significant probability value. The significance was detected between each of the statin groups and the control group. However no significant difference was found between atorvastatin and simvastatin group. Likewise, histopathological results showed significant hepatic injury in case of both statin groups compared to the control one. Conclusion & Recommendations: Atorvastatin and simvastatin induced hepatic injury as demonstrated by both biochemical and histopathological results in this study. Moreover, no significant difference was found between atorvastatin and simvastatin as regard statin induced liver injury.