Pancreatitis induced by statins

This paper was published in the Journal of the Pancreas 2004 Nov 10;5(6):502-4

Study title and authors:
Recurrent acute pancreatitis possibly induced by atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. Is statin induced pancreatitis a class effect?

Singh S, Nautiyal A, Dolan JG.
Department of Internal Medicine, Unity Health System, Rochester, NY 14626, USA. ssingh@unityhealth.org

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15536291

This paper reports the case of a woman who developed pancreatitis after treatment with statins.

(i) A 77-year-old female was presented to a medical facility with abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting for the past few days.
(ii) She had recently been started on rosuvastatin (Crestor) and her dose increased from 10 to 20 mg daily.
(iii) Statin induced pancreatitis was diagnosed and the patient improved with discontinuation of rosuvastatin.
(iv) Her medical history revealed that she had a similar episode of pancreatitis precipitated by atorvastatin (Lipitor) a year ago. A pimply rash and skin inflammation accompanied that episode.
(v) She was advised to avoid all statins in the future.

The study leader, Dr Sonal Singh, concludes that the occurrence of pancreatitis with two different statins in the patient argues that statins induced pancreatitis may be a class-effect of statins (side-effect of all statins).

Atorvastatin-induced acute pancreatitis

This study was published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics 2011 Jan;2(1):40-2

Study title and authors:
Atorvastatin-induced acute pancreatitis.

Deshpande PR, Khera K, Thunga G, Hande M, Gouda ST, Nagappa AN.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21701646

This paper reports the case of a statin-induced acute pancreatitis.

A 53-year-old patient developed acute pancreatitis after treatment with atorvastatin.

After withdrawl of statin treatment the patient recovered.

Extensive investigations revealed there was no other reason for the acute pancreatitis apart from the statin therapy.

This case further strengthens the fact that statins may cause acute pancreatitis.

Many pharmaceutical drugs increase the risk of acute pancreatitis

This study was published in Aliment Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2003 Apr 1;17(7):887-93

Study title and authors:
Discrepancies between population-based data and adverse reaction reports in assessing drugs as causes of acute pancreatitis.

Lancashire RJ, Cheng K, Langman MJ.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12656691

This study investigated the risk of various types of drugs with pancreatitis. The study included 3,673 patients with acute pancreatitis and around 11,000 controls.

The study found:
(a) Those who were prescribed H2-antgonists (Tagamet, Pepcid etc.) had a 240% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used H2-antagonists.
(b) Those who were prescribed proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Protonix etc.) had a 400% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used proton pump inhibitors.
(c) Those who were prescribed ACE inhibitors (Lotrl, Altace, Lisinopril etc.) had a 110% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used ACE inhibitors.
(d) Those who were prescribed statins (Zocor etc.) had a 10% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used statins.
(e) Those who were prescribed beta blockers (Lopressor, Tenormin etc.) had a 50% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used beta blockers.
(f) Those who were prescribed calcium channel blockers (Norvasc, Tiazac, Adalat etc.) had a 60% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used calcium channel blockers.
(g) Those who were prescribed diuretics (Navidrex, Lasix, Dytac etc.) had a 70% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used diuretics.
(h) Those who were prescribed valproate (Depakene, Convulex etc.) had a 140% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used valproate.
(i) Those who were prescribed fluoxetine (prozac, sarafem etc.) had a 60% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used fluoxetine.
(j) Those who were prescribed Tricyclic agents (Norpramin, Tofranil etc.) had a 40% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used Tricyclic agents.
(k) Those who were prescribed amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox etc.) had a 100% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used amoxicillin.
(l) Those who were prescribed azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan etc.) had a 1,190% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used azathioprine.

The data from this study highlights that many pharmaceutical drugs increase the risk of acute pancreatitis.

Statins increase the risk of acute pancreatitis by 44%

This study was published in Aliment Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2006 Jan 1;23(1):185-90

Study title and authors:

Statins and the risk of acute pancreatitis: a population-based case-control study.

Thisted H, Jacobsen J, Munk EM, Nørgaard B, Friis S, McLaughlin JK, Sørensen HT, Johnsen SP.

Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. ht@dce.au.dk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16393296

The aim of the study was to examine if statins are associated with risk of acute pancreatitis. The study included 2,576 patients with acute pancreatitis and 25,817 controls from the general population.

The study found that statin users had a 44% increased risk of pancreatitis.