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Statins' Effect on the Liver

Statins are a class of drug often prescribed to lower cholesterol as well as to counter various cardiovascular symptoms and risk factors, such as heart attack and stroke. Statins work primarily in the liver, and have several effects on the liver as a result.

  1. Function

    • Statins lower overall blood cholesterol by blocking the activity of certain enzymes in the liver that are essential in the production of cholesterol.

    How Statins Affect the Liver

    • When statins inhibit the actions of HMG-CoA reductase (the enzymes that create cholesterol in the liver) they cause peripheral cell damage, which can lead to intermittent cell death, depending on the dosage of the statin.

    High Dosages of Statins

    • When liver cells die, they release enzymes that can be measured by blood tests. High dosages of statin medications (such as Lipitor or Crestor) have been associated with an increase in liver enzyme levels in the blood--i.e., liver damage.

    Statins in People with Liver Disease

    • While statins can harm the liver in large doses, smaller doses of statins have been found to be effective medication for reducing cholesterol without aggravating liver disease if the disease is not far advanced.

    Clinical Studies

    • Clinical studies have shown that between .5 percent and 3 percent of patients taking statins develop elevated liver values, although in most patients reducing the dose or ceasing the administration of the statin medication completely reversed and resolved the liver effects.

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