US cardiologist Dr Orly Leiva has a special research interest in MPNs and cardiovascular issues and has published several articles on this emerging area of MPN management.
His latest article was published on 26 May and is free to access.
Titled, ‘Low serum cholesterol is a biomarker of advanced disease and poor outcomes in myeloproliferative neoplasms‘, the key points are that:
- “Among patients with MPNs not on statin therapy, low serum total cholesterol levels are common and associated with worse outcomes.
- Low total cholesterol levels were associated with markers of advanced disease, suggesting its utility as a biomarker for disease activity.”
Accompanying that article is a thoughtful commentary “Chewing the fat: the role of total cholesterol in MPN management” which is also recommended by Dr Leiva.
Should patients with already low cholesterol start on statins?
The MPN AA sought clarification from Dr Leiva as to whether statins were still something that should be considered for MPN patients who already have low total cholesterol. His response was that:
“Short answer is that yes, statins are still helpful. ……As far as starting statins in patients with low cholesterol, I still advocate in doing so as statins exert their cardio-protective effects via lipid lower and pleiotropic effects such as reduced inflammation. Additionally, low cholesterol levels may also explain the low use of statins in patients with MPNs since many clinicians may be hesitant to or not think of starting statins when the cholesterol levels are low. ”
An important take away from this study is that “low cholesterol levels themselves are likely biomarkers for adverse events and disease activity and not themselves a causative factor.”
If patients would like to learn more about MPNs and cardiovascular health, the MPN AA has prepared an extensive amount of information in our cardiovascular health section that will hopefully be useful as a reference.
Important:
- Dr Leiva is a US cardiologist and his study was done in US patients. US cholesterol measurements can be converted to Australian measurements by:
your total cholesterol x 38.67 = (the equivalent cholesterol in the article) - It is vital that you discuss this issue with your haematologist and GP and cardiologist before taking any statins.
