MPNs, hydrant statins.

[Turfbeg]

Hi everyone. I am particularly interested in Luthorville's reply to hunter5582's post concerning Dr Hans Hasselbalch's presentation. I presently take 1000mg hydroxycarbamide and 75mg aspirin daily. My platelets sit in the range 450 to520. I am 72 years old and now in my 9th year of taking hydroxycarbamide and aspirin.I am wondering if taking a statin might result in a lowering of my platelets and possibly enable the hydroxycarbamide dose to be lowered and even slow down or halt disease progression.

It seems to me that we possibly have a considerable number of members who have experience of taking these three medicines and hopefully they would be happy to share their experience with regard to dosages, effect on platlet counts, side effects and possibly disease progression.

Many thanks in anticipation on your replies. Turfbeg

[Rem31]

I have coronary artery vasospasm (INOCA) and take a statin. I’ve never had elevated cholesterol levels and my heart is otherwise healthy. Briefly, the main benefit in my case is its anti inflammatory effects on the endothelium.

I’m not aware it has any direct impact on platelet production or Mpn disease progression. My HU dose and platelet level didn’t shift in either direction when starting the statin and, for a short while when it was initially thought I had seriously blocked arteries, I was on a high statin dose.

I’m into 12 yrs of HU and 6 yrs on a lowish statin dose with no adverse effects from the statin.

[Turfbeg in reply to Rem31]

Many thanks for your reply! I lack of platelet shift is just what I was wondering about.

[AndyT]

I’ve been on statins to control my cholesterol for 21 years but not aware that they have any effect on platelets - mine continued to rise while I was on statins and only dropped when I started on Pegasys.

[Turfbeg in reply to AndyT]

Many thanks- these two replies of no effect of statins changing plateletlevels are enough to make me realise it was a pipe dream!

[ainslie]

sorry to be a killjoy but I have never heard of statins doing any of the things you hope they might do

[Turfbeg in reply to ainslie]

Many thanks - just a pipe dream!