Long-term exposure to statins may be associated with drug-induced lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders

This study was published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2007 Jan;21(1):17-24

 

Study title and author:

Lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases related to statin therapy: a systematic review.

Noël B.

Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland. bernard.noel@chuv.hospvd.ch

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17207162

This paper reviewed the scientific literature concerning statin-induced autoimmune diseases including lupus erythematosus.

The review found:
(a) Statins were associated with various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, polymyositis and lichen planus pemphigoides.
(b) Autoimmune hepatitis was observed in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
(c) The average time of exposure before disease onset was 12 months, with a range from one month to six years.
(d) Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy was required in the majority of cases to aid clinical recovery.
(e) Some patients died despite the immunosuppressive therapy.

Noel concludes: "Long-term exposure to statins may be associated with drug-induced lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders. Fatal cases have been reported despite early drug discontinuation and aggressive systemic immunosuppressive therapy".

Statins and erupting skin lesions

This paper was published in the Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie 2003 Feb;130(2 Pt 1):187-90

Study title and authors:
Simvastatin-induced lichen planus pemphigoides

Stoebner PE, Michot C, Ligeron C, Durand L, Meynadier J, Meunier L.
Service de Dermatologie-Allergologie-Photobiologie, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 80, avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5. p-stoebner@chu-montpellier.fr

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12671581

Lichen planus pemphigoides is a rare autoimmune blistering disease that is characterized by the development of erupting fluid from skin lesions.

Stoebner describes the case of a 63-year-old man who developed lichen planus pemphigoides lesions after two months treatment with simvastatin. All the lesions progressively disappeared after simvastatin treatment was discontinued.

With the increasing use of statins Stoebbner concludes: "An association between simvastatin and lichen planus pemphigoides should be kept in mind".