For patients

All organs removed from donors have already suffered a degree of damage. As the brain dies (and all of these donors are brain-stem dead) chemicals are released which cause an “inflammation” of the whole body. Measurements of this “inflammation” link to how well the organs function in the recipient after transplant.   

In parallel, we know the cholesterol-lowering drugs “statins” have benefits across a range of health problems which go beyond the direct benefits on cholesterol. In particular, statins damp down inflammation in the body and in individual organs.  Statins protect the lungs and kidneys in a range of illnesses.   

We wish to find out whether giving organ donors a single dose of Simvastatin, a very widely used and safe drug, is helpful for the people who will receive the organ.  

We are investigating a statin called ‘simvastatin’. Simvastatin is already a drug used to treat a range of health problems.   

If you have given consent for your loved one to take part, they will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups in the study, to remove any bias. One group will receive 80mg Simvastatin in addition to all of the standard care that they receive, including other usual medications. The other group will receive standard care alone. There is a 50/50 chance of being in either group.  

If they are randomised to receive Simvastatin, they will receive a single dose of Simvastatin. The drug will be given to your relative via a tube running into their stomach, as soon as possible after obtaining consent/authorisation. It is likely that your relative already has this tube in place as part of their critical care or because organ donation is planned, but this may need to be placed. This will not cause your relative any distress; it will not be placed until after death has been confirmed. 

Half of the people who receive an organ from a donor who has taken part in the study, will receive an organ from a donor given the drug.  We will look at how well the organs are functioning after the transplant; comparing what happens in those who received the drug-treated organs, and those who did not. This is done with data already collected on people who have received an organ in the UK Transplant Registry. No extra data will be needed.