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.