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Statins reduced incidence of venous thromboembolism

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CHEST 2008

PHILADELPHIA — Researchers at Albert Einstein Medical Center concluded after a retrospective study that statins may be able to prevent deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and blood clots in patients with solid tumors.

Danai Khemasuwan, MD, a resident at the medical center, presented the results at CHEST 2008, the 74th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians, held in Philadelphia.

The researchers divided 740 consecutive patients into 194 statin users and 546 non-users. The patients had been diagnosed with a variety of cancers including breast, lung, esophageal and brain.

The overall incidence of venous thromboembolism was 18%. Khemasuwan said 8% of patients in the statin group developed a venous thromboembolism compared with 21% in the control group (OR=0.33; P<.001).

“Even when controlling for all the possible confounding factors, statins still significantly decreased the chance of developing pulmonary embolism/deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients,” he told HemOnc Today. “We should conduct prospective studies to look for other potential benefits of statins in this group of patients.” – by Jason Harris

Looking at a potential venous effect of statins rather than the usual arterial effect at atherosclerosis prevention raises new thoughts about linkages between cholesterol and clotting, and the pleotropic affect of statins in blood clots. This may be a very simple and effective way to help reduce deep vein thrombosis in high-risk populations. We do that now mostly with anticoagulants that have some significant risk for developing bleeding. If we could substitute a smaller dose of statins with a lower dose of anticoagulants and be just as effective, that might be a nice way to address preoperative knee surgery and hip surgery where the incidence of thromboembolism is fairly high.

– David D. Gutterman, MD

Northwestern Mutual Professor of Cardiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

For more information:

• Khemasuwan D. #6613. Presented at: CHEST 2008; Oct. 25-30, 2008; Philadelphia.