Rosuvastatin improves vascular function of arteriovenous fistula in a diabetic rat model

Arteriovenous (AV) fistula is the most common vascular access for hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Studies have shown that blood flow in the AV fistula is significantly reduced in patients with diabetes and the period for maturation of an AV fistula is longer in these patients. The underlying mechanisms of AV fistula failure in diabetes are still poorly understood and there are limited therapeutic approaches that can increase the lifespan of these fistulas. The present study demonstrates that oral administration rosuvastatin improves blood flow and endothelial function of AC fistulas in rats with diabetes, which results from attenuating the activity of proinflammatory genes in the remodeled vasculature, thereby reducing the generation of tissue superoxide anions. Our results may thus enhance our ability to prevent and manage vascular access failure in patients with diabetes with chronic renal disease.