Statins Associated with Lower Risk of Death and Liver Decompensation

[can-do-man]

Hepatitis C patients with liver cirrhosis were significantly less likely to progress to decompensated disease and less likely to die if they used statins to control blood cholesterol, according to an analysis of U.S. veterans presented at the Digestive Disease Week meeting this week in Washington, DC, and at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 50th International Liver Congress last month in Vienna. Another recent study found that statins were associated with better response to hepatitis C treatment and lower risk of liver cancer.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hepatitis-c/hepatitis-c-topics/hcv-disease-progression/5224-ddw-2015easl-2015-statins-associated-with-lower-risk-of-decompensation-and-death-in-hep-c-patients-with-cirrhosis

[banjoer]

  Thanks for the imfo! My cholesterole  levels are marginal to alittle high .I,m gonna talk to my doc about this . I got a friend who is cirrotic  and I,m sure this will interest him also.

[can-do-man]

Hi Livelife... Am I sold on the fact that statins are going to reduce my chances of becoming decomp from my having cirrhosis or improving my cirrhosis. No. But I am hoping there is something to it and maybe reducing my chances of HCC. In my case thanks to having Hep C and progressing to being cirrhotic I had high cholesterol and that put me in a high risk for heart problems and strokes. So my Hepa said I needed to take them and he was encouraged about what studies have shown. As for how many studies are going to happen is unknown mainly because they are such a cheap drug and not much encouragement for drug companies for research.

When I read posts about side effects of maybe this or that I have to think just what drug out there doesn't have a list of potential side effects. And with any drug if one does not have a need to take them why would they?

As for a study being done by a drug company? Well I would hope so.

Best to all.

[Livelife777]

Have honestly been going back and forth on responding to this thread as I have felt conflicted regarding statins.  I really have nothing valuable to add other then to say I'm keeping an open mind regarding their benefit.  In my situation perhaps more studies will swing the pendulum one way or the other.
Regardless, interesting news and will continue to read the the results.
.....Kim

[HopeInPA]

New Research Shows Why Statins Should Be Viewed as a Double-Edged Sword

http://newswise.com/articles/new-research-shows-why-statins-should-be-viewed-as-a-double-edged-sword

Statins’ success in reducing atherosclerosis-related events has elevated the medications to wonder-drug status, with some researchers advocating for their wider use as a preemptive therapy for cardiovascular disease.

Using statins, however, can have side effects, including memory loss, muscle problems and increased diabetes risk.

A new study explains why statins are more beneficial in some cases than others and highlights the importance of weighing individual risk when considering statins as a preventive measure.
...
This study found that long-term statin use prevented mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from turning into macrophages, which could decrease inflammation and improve plaque stability in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, statins also prevented MSCs from becoming bone and cartilage cells.

Statins increased aging and death rate of mesenchymal stem cells and reduced their DNA repair abilities. “While the effect on macrophage differentiation explains the beneficial side of statins, their impact on other biologic properties of stem cells provides a novel explanation for their adverse clinical effects,” the researchers wrote.

The risks of statin use are associated with their negative effects on stem cell function. Statin therapy benefits individuals with atherosclerosis, but because of its effects on stem cells, it may not be appropriate as a preventive measure for those who do not have cardiovascular disease, the researchers wrote.

[Idyllic]

Maybe statins are turning out to be the unsung hero in medicine. There was a recent Medscape email (two days ago maybe)

statin use was associated with a 22% reduction in deaths from various cancer types in postmenopausal women and a 55% reduction in deaths from bone and connective tissue cancers.

[dontworry_behappy1]

What is interesting about this study is 66% of the participants smoked.  
So apparently statins benefit smokers too.  

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/heart_disease/index.htm

Heart decease is a serious illness.  I personally skipped over this post previously due to the fact I don't and never have needed statins.  It is interesting.  

[Sarah1949]

My cholesterol is low and my hepatologist said to wait because statins can have bad side effects and the study was done by a drug company.
Wait for further studies that is.

[jules2551]

Nice

[can-do-man]

There are no dietetic limitations that I am aware of and I have no side effects at all. My cholesterol was high but my Family Doctor was concerned being I am cirrhotic so we called my Hepatologist and got his thoughts and he was all for it. Been on them for over a year and my numbers are great... Best to you.

[48weeks]

Are there any dietetic limitations with statins or side effects? Did you have to talk your Doctor into getting you a prescription?

[mzkity]

Thanks for this, I needed to here it.  

Hope your doing good can-do!!

[can-do-man]

That would be a good ideal 48weeks. As for how much they are very cheap. I'm on Simvastatin which is a 2 dollar generic for Zocor.

There are other generics that are really cheap. Best to you.

[48weeks]

I have definitely bookmarked that link, and plan to follow up on it.  I wonder how expensive statins are.

[48weeks]

I have a family history of heart disease, and my cholesterol is a tad above 200.  I also just reached svr.  I do not have cirrhosis as far as I can tell, but I had HCV for over 25 years.  It seems that statins would have a benefit for me from a heart perspective, I wonder if my liver would gain any benefits from them as well.

[can-do-man]

5mg is a very low dose so there should be no worry. Good luck in getting that cholesterol level down as yours is on the high side.

[can-do-man]

May 22, 2012 (San Diego, California) — Statin therapy is not only safe for people with cirrhosis, it might be potentially beneficial, according to research presented here at Digestive Disease Week 2012.

"We found less progression of liver disease in patients taking statins, and a lower mortality rate. This is contrary to prior beliefs that statins may not be safe in patients with cirrhosis; in fact, they may be beneficial," said lead investigator Sonal Kumar, MD, from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Patients with cirrhosis have decreased hepatic clearance, and thus could be at increased risk for complications, specifically hepatic decompensation. Statins lower portal pressure and, therefore, might be protective of the liver, she explained.

Statins Cut Decompensating Events in Half

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/764237


Then there is this.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/843734

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

"Statin use is low in patients with cirrhosis, even in those with a high cardiovascular risk," Mohanty said.
Until randomized controlled trials are conducted, statins cannot be widely recommended for all cirrhotic hepatitis C patients, she added, but for patients who otherwise require statins, "their use should not be avoided."

See second sentence above

Now this is interesting:
"Studies have also shown that statins can decrease portal pressure in people with cirrhosis, --------and to improve survival in patients with bleeding varices, the researchers noted as background. However, the long-term effects of statins on decompensation and mortality among patients with compensated cirrhosis are unknown."

[jules2551]

Congrats Pacman I think you made an informative decision.  I know I will be talking to my Dr after I finish Harvoni.  I am adopted and do not know any of my biological medical history.  I just think it's better to be safe than sorry.  I printed this off and will give it to my Dr on our next visit.

I am surprised though, there are so many cirrhotics on this forum, that more people aren't commenting on this article.  

Thanks again Cando!

[pacman1372]

thanks for this informative article .
I got my lipid's yesterday and my cholesterol was at 220 , the doc prescribed 5 mg of statins a day as i have hcv and he didn't want to strain the liver .

I myself was verrry hesitant to take the statins as i don't like to pop pills .

after reading the article , atleas't my mind is at peace with taking a mild dose .

Thank you again for the article . it really has helped me .

Yes i will be starting long walks and some form of exercise too ;) hehehehe ,

God bless and warm regards .

[jules2551]

Thanks for posting Cando!  It seems they have been doing a lot of research on Statins lately and showing tremendous benefits to taking them.  A cousin of mine who's family has a history of heart disease started taking them at the age of 40.  Statin will probably become the new one a day vitamin.

jules