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".

Lovastatin (Mevacor) may be associated with the onset of lupus

This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 1991 Aug;151(8):1667-8

 

Study title and authors:

Lovastatin-induced lupus erythematosus.

Ahmad S.

Cardio-Diagnostic Clinique, Fairmont, WVa 26554.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1872674

This paper describes two patients; a 64-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, who developed a lupuslike syndrome due to lovastatin therapy. (Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage).

The lovastatin-induced lupus was completely reversed on withdrawal of the statin.

This suggests that lovastatin (Mevacor) may be associated with the onset of lupus.

Statins double the risk of lupus

This study was published in Seminars in Arthritis Rheumatism 2011 Dec;41(3):373-81

Study title and authors:
Association between statin use and lupus-like syndrome using spontaneous reports.

de Jong HJ, Tervaert JW, Saldi SR, Vandebriel RJ, Souverein PC, Meyboom RH, van Loveren H, Klungel OH.
Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21868063

The study assessed whether there was an association between statin use and the occurrence of lupus-like syndrome. The study included 3,362 reports of lupus-like syndrome.

The study found that statin use was associated with a 101% increase in the reporting of lupus-like syndrome.

Statins increase the risk of lupus by 67%

This study was published in Lupus 2012 Jul;21(8):885-9

 

Study title and authors:

Statin-induced lupus: a case/non-case study in a nationwide pharmacovigilance database.

Moulis G, Béné J, Sommet A, Sailler L, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Montastruc JL; French Association of PharmacoVigilance Centres.

CHU Toulouse, Service de Médecine Interne, Toulouse, F-31059, France. guillaume.moulis@univ-tlse3.fr

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22333565

The study examined the relationship between statins and lupus. Data from 235,147 adverse drug reports were analysed by the investigators.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.

The study found that exposure to statins was associated with a 67% increased risk of lupus.