Using Fluvastatin As Treatment For Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)

Research show that fluvastatin, a cholesterol lowering statin, can be used as treatment for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS is a disorder that can cause pregnancy loss, stroke, myocardial infarction, and arterial/deep vein thrombosis.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that causes or provokes blood clots and miscarriages. APS increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the veins) and arterial thrombosis (blood clot in an artery). A thrombus or a blood clot in a blood vessel can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Statins Reduce Risk Of Glaucoma By Eight Percent

Statins are a class of drugs used to lower and manage the cholesterol levels of the human body.

Statins lowers cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme that controls production of cholesterol in the liver. Statin benefits those with cholesterol problems since it targets LDL (Low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol which is the "bad" type of cholesterol.

High levels of cholesterol in the body can cause the hardening of arteris called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can lead to more serious conditions such as restricted blood flow to the heart, stroke, and heart attack.

Patients with cardivascular disease are often prescribed with statins. In the United States alone, there are 20 million users of statins making it the best selling pharmaceutical in history. Sales of the drug in 2011 reached a record US$ 130 Billion.

In Feb 2012, the FDA warned statin users of potential risks. They announced a change in safety labels noting that use of statins may raise levels of blood sugar and could cause memory loss. In 2010, a study showed that statins use increases risk of diabetes by 9 percent.

Despite this, doctors still believe that the benefits of statins to patients with cardiovascular conditions outweigh its risks.

National study finds reduced glaucoma risk in patients who take statins

People who take statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease are less likely to be diagnosed with the most common form of glaucoma, according to a nationwide study of more than 300,000 patients. A University of Michigan School of Medicine research team, directed by Joshua Stein, MD, MS, found that the risk for glaucoma was reduced by eight percent in patients who took statins continuously for two years, compared with patients who did not take statins. The study, the largest to date on the topic, is published in the October issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Cholesterol Control Drug Statin Prevents Cancer in Heart Transplant Patients

Statins are drugs used by patients to lower cholesterol levels in the body.

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.