Statins can damage the lining of blood vessels

This study was published in Life Sciences 2013 Mar 18

 

Study title and authors:

Statin Therapy Influences Endothelial Cell Morphology and F-Actin Cytoskeleton Structure When Exposed to Static and Laminar Shear Stress Conditions.

Dick M, Jonak P, Leask RL.

Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B2, Canada.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23517776

The aim of the study was to determine how statin drugs affect endothelial cell shape and F-actin cytoskeleton arrangement. (Endothelial cells are the thin layer of cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, and F-actin cytoskeleton is part of the cells scaffolding or skeleton). In the study, human endothelial cells were cultured in the laboratory and were then treated with statins.

The study found:
(a) After been treated with statins the endothelial cells became rounded, which is associated with unhealthy cells in arteries prone to developing a build up of plaque.
(b) After been treated with statins the F-actin cytoskeleton structure was disorganized and fragmented which can lead to cell death.

The significance of the results of the study is that endothelial cells and F-actin cytoskeleton arrangement are advesely impacted by statin treatment which may increase the risk of arterial plaque and cell death.

Statins associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk

This study was published in Atherosclerosis 2011 Dec;219(2):728-33

 

Study title and authors:

Association of lower total bilirubin level with statin usage: the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008.

Ong KL, Wu BJ, Cheung BM, Barter PJ, Rye KA.

Lipid Research Group, Heart Research Institute, 7 Eliza Street, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia. ongk@hri.org.au

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21840000

Low levels of bilirubin are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk see here, here and here.

This study investigated the effect of statins on bilirubin levels. The study included data from 3,290 subjects with a history of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The study found that
(a) Those taking statins had lower total bilirubin levels than those not taking any cholesterol-lowering medication.
(b) Those taking lovastatin, rosuvastatin, and cerivastatin had the lowest bilirubin levels.

The data from the study shows that statins are associated with lower bilirubin levels, which is a marker for increased cardiovascular disease risk. 

Statin use is associated with increased amounts of coronary artery plaque

This study was published in Atherosclerosis 2012 Nov;225(1):148-53

Study title and authors:
Statins use and coronary artery plaque composition: Results from the International Multicenter CONFIRM Registry.

Nakazato R, Gransar H, Berman DS, Cheng VY, Lin FY, Achenbach S, Al-Mallah M, Budoff MJ, Cademartiri F, Callister TQ, Chang HJ, Cury RC, Chinnaiyan K, Chow BJ, Delago A, Hadamitzky M, Hausleiter J, Kaufmann P, Maffei E, Raff G, Shaw LJ, Villines TC, Dunning A, Feuchtner G, Kim YJ, Leipsic J, Min JK.
Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and Department of Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: Ryo.Nakazato@cshs.org.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22981406

The study investigated the relationship between statin use and the presence of coronary artery plaque. The study included 6,673 individuals, average age 59 years, who had their coronary artery plaque assessed.

The plaque was graded as:
(i) Non-calcified
(ii) Mixed
(iii) Calcified

The study found:
(a) Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had an 11% increased presence of non-calcified plaque.
(b) Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had an 46% increased presence of mixed plaque.
(c) Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had an 54% increased presence of calcified plaque.

The results of the study show that statin use is associated with increased amounts of coronary artery plaque.

Statin treatment is associated with a higher death rate and a higher risk of heart attack in angioplasty patients

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 1994 Nov 17;331(20):1331-7

 

Study title and authors:

Lack of effect of lovastatin on restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Lovastatin Restenosis Trial Study Group.

Weintraub WS, Boccuzzi SJ, Klein JL, Kosinski AS, King SB 3rd, Ivanhoe R, Cedarholm JC, Stillabower ME, Talley JD, DeMaio SJ

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7935702

This six month, randomized, double-blind trial evaluated the effects of lovastatin in 404 patients who had undergone angioplasty. (Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening narrowed or obstructed arteries). The patients received either lovastatin (40 mg orally twice daily) or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Patients receiving lovastatin had a 200% increased risk of death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(b) Patients receiving lovastatin had a 177% increased risk of a heart attack compared to the patients receiving placebo.

The data from the study reveals that statin treatment is associated with a higher death rate and a higher risk of heart attack in angioplasty patients.

Statins are associated with higher death rates, higher cardiac death rates and increased risk of cancer

This study was published in Circulation 2000 Oct 10;102(15):1748-54

 

Study title and authors:

Long-term effects of cholesterol lowering and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on coronary atherosclerosis: The Simvastatin/Enalapril Coronary Atherosclerosis Trial (SCAT).

Teo KK, Burton JR, Buller CE, Plante S, Catellier D, Tymchak W, Dzavik V, Taylor D, Yokoyama S, Montague TJ.

University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. teok@fhs.mcmaster.ca

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11023927

One of the aims of this long-term, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of simvastatin in patients with normal cholesterol levels and with detectable plaque build up in at least three major coronary artery segments. The study lasted for four years and included  a total of 460 patients: 230 received simvastatin and 230, a placebo.

The study found:
(a) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 117% increased risk of death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(b) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 76% increased risk of cardiac death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(c) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 225% increased risk of non-cardiac death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(d) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 9% increased risk of a heart attack compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(e) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 78% increased risk of cancer compared to the patients receiving placebo.

The data from the study reveals that statins are associated with higher death rates, higher cardiac death rates and increased risk of cancer. 

Statins are associated with decreased myocardial function

This study was published in Clinical Cardiology 2009 Dec;32(12):684-9

 

Study title and authors:

Statin therapy decreases myocardial function as evaluated via strain imaging.

Rubinstein J, Aloka F, Abela GS.

Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027659

The myocardium is the heart's muscular wall. It contracts to pump blood out of the heart, then relaxes as the heart refills with returning blood. This vital function pumps blood to the cells and tissues of the body. A decrease in myocardial function is associated with angina see here and a chronic impairment of blood flow is associated with heart failure see here.

This study sought to identify changes in myocardial function associated with statin use in 28 patients without heart disease. The myocardial function of 12 patients that were on statin therapy were compared with 16 controls who were not taking statins.

The study found that statin therapy is associated with decreased myocardial function.