Cholesterol is a waxy steroid of fat that is used to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity in the cells. High cholesterol levels may result in it to stick to arterial walls and cause arteries to harden, narrow or even result to blockages.
Aside from diet and exercise, drugs such as statins control cholesterol levels. It does so by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver. Statin lowers bad cholesterol levels and raises good cholesterol levels and also slows down the formation of plaques in the arteries.
They are relatively safe to use for most people but are not recommended for pregnant patients or those with liver conditions. Statins can also cause serious muscle problems. There are about 20 million americans who take statin to control their cholesterol levels.
Some types of statins are can be found in such foods as oyster mushrooms and red yeast rice (a bright reddish purple fermented rice). In a previous article, scientists are currently testing whether statin drugs may prevent the development of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Statins prevent cancer in heart transplant recipients
Statins prevent cancer and reduce death from all causes in heart transplant recipients. The findings were independent of cholesterol levels.
The research was presented at the Heart Failure Congress 2012, 19-22 May, in Belgrade, Serbia. The Congress is the main annual meeting of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.
Cancer is the leading cause of death late after heart transplantation. Skin cancer is particularly common, but solid organ cancers including colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and lymphoma also occur. The increased rate of cancer in heart transplant recipients may be related to the immune suppression of the patient.
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Statins are immunomodulatory drugs and may benefit patients beyond their lipid lowering effects. The current study (abstract P306) investigated the impact of statin therapy on the occurrence of cancer and death from all causes in heart transplantation recipients.
The study included all 255 patients who underwent heart transplantation at the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland between 1985 and 2007 and were alive after the first year. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of any cancer and the secondary endpoint was overall survival.
During follow up, cancer was diagnosed in 108 patients (42%). Statins reduced the risk of any cancer by 65% (p=0.0001). Eight years after transplantation the cumulative incidence of tumours was 34% in patients not receiving a statin compared to 13% in patients receiving a statin (p=0.003). The benefit persisted at the 10 year (39% vs. 18%) and 12 year follow-up (42% vs. 22%).
Statin use was associated with improved cancer free and overall survival (both p=0.0001). The beneficial effect of statins on preventing cancer and reducing death from all causes was independent of patients' cholesterol levels. This suggests that the benefit of statins was due to their immunomodulatory effects.
Guidelines from the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) recommend giving a statin to patients after heart transplantation to reduce graft atherosclerosis. This study shows that there are additional benefits to following that recommendation.
Lead author Dr Frank Enseleit, deputy director of heart failure and transplantation at University Hospital Zurich, says patients can safely begin statin therapy six months after transplantation and they should take the drug for the rest of their lives.
"We have shown that statin therapy prevents cancer in heart transplant recipients and it is known that statins also prevent graft atherosclerosis," he says. "We have to conclude that it should be a lifelong therapy in heart transplant recipients."
RELATED LINKS
European Society of Cardiology
Heart Failure Congress 2012
Heart Failure Association
University Hospital Zurich
International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation
Abstract P306
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