LONDON -- New research indicates kidney transplant patients could reduce their risk of heart attacks by about a third by taking popular cholesterol-lowering drugs. Experts say the study, published today on the Web site of the medical journal the Lancet, offers important evidence that statin drugs can improve the health of kidney transplant patients, who are often vulnerable to heart trouble.

A total of 1,788 kidney transplant patients completed the international study led by scientists at the National Hospital in Oslo, Norway. About half were given the statin drug fluvastatin, or Lescol, and the other half got a fake pill.

After five years, there were 70 heart attacks in the statin group, compared with 104 among those taking the placebos.

The risk of a fatal heart attack was 38 per cent lower among those taking the drug than for those taking the dummy pill. The risk of a non-lethal heart attack was 32 per cent lower in the group taking the statin.

Dr. Jules Puschett, an American Heart Association representative, said the findings weren't surprising because many doctors already prescribe statins to kidney transplant patients, based on evidence of the drugs' benefits in other types of patients vulnerable to heart trouble.

Kidney transplant patients face an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease; many of them have heart disease at the time of their transplants.

Kidney transplant patients face an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Immune system suppressing drugs needed to prevent the body rejecting the transplant may aggravate existing heart disease risk.