MONDAY, Nov. 21, 2016 (HealthDay Information) -- As a result of the irregular heartbeat referred to as atrial fibrillation can set off stroke-inducing clots, many sufferers are prescribed a blood thinner.
However a brand new Canadian research means that combining one blood thinner, Pradaxa, with sure statin drugs may increase the percentages for bleeding in these sufferers.
"A rise within the threat of bleeding requiring hospital admission or emergency division visits was seen with lovastatin [Mevacor] and simvastatin [Zocor] in contrast with the opposite statins," stated research creator Tony Antoniou, a pharmacist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
His staff tracked outcomes for almost 46,000 sufferers ages 65 and older. All had atrial fibrillation and took Pradaxa (dabigatran) to cut back their threat of stroke.
Those that additionally took both lovastatin or simvastatin had a 40 % greater threat of bleeding than those that took different statins, the researchers reported Nov. 21 within the Canadian Medical Affiliation Journal.
However, "we discovered no distinction within the threat of stroke in sufferers receiving dabigatran who have been prescribed lovastatin or simvastatin versus different statins," Antoniou stated in a hospital information launch.
Why the distinction in bleeding threat? Antoniou's staff speculated that lovastatin and simvastatin might increase the quantity of Pradaxa absorbed by the physique, thereby growing the chance of bleeding. Which may not happen with different statins, that are medication designed to decrease ldl cholesterol, the researchers stated.
Two specialists -- a neurologist and a heart specialist -- stated the brand new research may level to a problem docs want to deal with.
"The authors have recognized a doubtlessly major problem," stated Dr. Andrew Rogove. He is medical director of stroke at Northwell Well being's Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, N.Y.
"There are alternate statin medication that don't have this impact on Pradaxa," he stated. Rogove harassed, nevertheless, that "this research checked out older populations [age over 66] and will not maintain true for youthful sufferers."
Dr. Kevin Marzo is chief of cardiology at Winthrop-College Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. "As many as 50 % of sufferers on [Pradaxa] are also taking a statin," he famous.
"Primarily based on this research, various statins not related to elevated bleeding threat must be used as an alternative of lovastatin and simvastatin in sufferers," Marzo stated.
WebMD Information from HealthDay
Sources
SOURCES: Andrew Rogove, M.D., medical director, stroke, Northwell Well being's Southside Hospital, Bay Shore, N.Y.; Kevin Marzo, M.D., chief, division of cardiology, Winthrop-College Hospital, Mineola, N.Y.; St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, information launch, Nov. 21, 2016
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