Vertical bone augmentation with fluvastatin in an injectable delivery system: A rat study

Objectives: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are widely used for hyperlipidemia. Previous studies demonstrate that statins stimulate bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression and lead to bone formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether percutaneously injected statin with a novel statin delivery system achieved vertical bone augmentation. Material and methods: As experimental groups, atelocollagen-α-tricalcium phosphate (αTCP) composites containing 3.3 mg (low dose) or 6.7 mg (high dose) of fluvastatin were injected (one shot) subcutaneously over the calvarial periosteum of rats. The animals were then sacrificed 1, 2, and 4 weeks after injection. Vertically augmented bone was assessed by histomorphometric procedures, i.e., by measuring new bone thickness (NBT) and bone density (BD). Results: In control groups, no newly formed bone could be seen over the calvarial bone. In the experimental groups, in contrast, a large amount of newly formed bone could be seen over the preexisting calvarial bone. The newly formed bone was seen to be in direct contact with the preexisting bone. During the entire observation, significant NBT was observed in the experimental groups (P<0.05). At the final stage of observation (4 weeks), NBT was 66.7% (low-dose group) and 59.7% (high-dose group), while they were from 1% to 16.3% in the control groups. In the experimental groups, BD significantly increased in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Percutaneously applied fluvastatin (one shot) with a composite of αTCP and collagen has great potential to augment the height of the bone.