Guest guest Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 -----Original Message-----I was wondering if anyone had any information about contraindications for statin drugs and PSC? See: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010 for a complete review of Statins. From Mayo - “There are two potentially serious side effects of Statins of which you need to be aware: Liver damage. Occasionally, statin use causes an increase in liver enzymes. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug. If the increase is severe, you may need to stop taking it, which usually reverses the problem. If left unchecked, increased liver enzymes potentially can cause permanent liver damage. Certain other cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and niacin, increase the risk of liver problems even more in people who take statins. Because liver problems may develop without symptoms, people who take statins have their liver function tested periodically.” HTH Barb in Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 Statins may have an advantage in PSC. Here is a differnt point of view: Statins block the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase which blocks the production of cholesterol. With less cholesterol the body makes fewer bile acids. It is possible that using URSO + a statin would enrich the bile acid pool with URSO because less of the other bile acids would be produced. Another consideration is that cholesterol levels rise when there is cholestasis as seen in PBC and PSC. The cholestatic rise in cholesterol is not thought to be as dangerous as the inherited dyslipidemias but I think that it is crucial to keep the blood vessels clean and ready for transplant. A statin may help keep the blood vessels clean if the LDL levels are elevated. The risk of liver disease caused by a statin is very rare i.e. 1/1000 and it is reversable if detected. Anyway, I use Zocor + Urso and fish oil with the hope of higher URSO consentration in my bile and a lower risk of vascular disease (my dad had coronary artery blockages). Without specific data on these issues we are left to find our own way by logic and making our best assumptions. I would prefer real data but don't know of any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.