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Statins for Graves' orbitopathy: a new tool for prevention and treatment?
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Statin Use Associated with Lower Incidence of Developing Thyroid Eye Disease in Newly-Diagnosed Graves' Disease
Something odd struck me.
Addition of oral atorvastatin to an ivGC regimen improved Graves' orbitopathy outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe, active eye disease who were hypercholesterolaemic.
I am well aware that Graves' orbitopathy can occur regardless thyroid hormone level. But there is a greater incidence among those who suffer from hyperthyroidism.
To select hypercholesterolaemic subjects makes me wonder about the unmentioned thyroid hormone statuses of the subject. (Maybe the full paper says more?)
Not at all clear (to me) whether the subjects were on any treatment for Graves' disease - and they might even have gone into hypothyroidism due to that treatment.
The impact of these factors is impossible to assess without knowing much more.
Point taken.
What interested me about this study is the statin TED connection. Never would have guessed there was one.
I started a statin earlier in the year whilst in the midst of a bad TED flare. A few months later, all symptoms are gone. I received no treatment for the TED. And relied only on some dietary additions to lower my higher in-range TRAb level. Plus i lowered my carbimazole dose.
Now i wonder if the statin helped with the TED and could it prevent further attacks? That would be just great!
Definitely interesting!
It wouldn't be the first time that a medicine introduced for one purpose ends up getting used for something else entirely.
Do you knwo where your thyroid hormone levels were when you started the statin?
Yes, fyi -
Statin started 10 Mar
FT4 and TRAb were tested 25 Mar
FT3 not tested as not experiencing heart symptoms; plus my FT3 level always tests the same at 5.3, rarely 5.4 (range 3.5-6), as per how normal FT3 functions
25 Mar 2021-
FT4 16.4(11.8-24.6)
TRAb 1.3(0.0-1.7)
TRAb is my achilles heel. It causes my hyper symptoms, even when in range. Now that my thyroid is feeling unusually stable and maintaining so, i am wondering if the statin might also be exerting some control over TRAb levels?? This would definitely be a game changer for me!
Cheers helvella : )
Ever since statins were invented it seems as if the pharma companies have been looking for other diseases they could use it for. As far as I can remember statins have been tried (and obviously declared amazing) for type 2 diabetes, some types of dementia, breast cancer, some other cancers, depression and anxiety.
Personally, I wouldn't touch statins with a barge pole, for any condition at all, because low cholesterol actually reduces life span.
Study the graphs in this link :
drmalcolmkendrick.org/2012/...
And for more links about cholesterol and statins, this thread from a diabetes forum should be of interest :
diabetes.co.uk/forum/thread...
I get the impression that certain diseases are "disapproved of" by the medical profession as a cause of death. For example, at the moment the only deaths that are important are Covid deaths. Any other reason for death is unimportant.
In the case of cholesterol and statins, anyone dying of heart disease or stroke who hasn't been taking statins for years beforehand is effectively considered to have committed suicide. But, personally, I'd prefer a quick death from a heart attack or stroke rather than die of cancer or dementia. But maybe that's just me.
I guess we can agree to disagree?
Before i started the moderate dose statin, my cardio informed me of the increased risks associated with taking a statin - 1)diabetes, 2)dementia.
My mom started a low dose statin 30+years ago when her cholesterol started to rise. That move by her GP has kept her from developing coronary artery disease. An angiogram done when she was 84, showed no significant blockages and her arteries were considered largely clear, with a minimal 30% block, in line with someone of her age. The latest her cardio has recommended, is that mom could consider stopping her statin.
My dad had severe CAD and suffered a heart attack and stroke. Statins extended his life. Had it not been for statins, my father would have died at a young age like his dad and sisters. He was happy to be able to see his grandchildren.
I had a thought although I could well be totally mis understanding. It’s often reported TED is triggered or worsened when thyroid levels are low. It’s also well known hypothyroid levels causes cholesterol to rise too.
Is there any relevance that cholesterol deposit around the eyes shown on the surface as (xanthelasma) and TED is when the immune system is attacking ocular fatty tissue & muscle, So the two occurring together could exacerbates symptoms?
If this was a contributing factor it may explain why some suffer from TED and others don’t.
This article explains increased orbital fat and extraocular muscle volume within the orbital space is a clinical manifestation of GO.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
The thing is little is understood about the mechanism of thyroid eye disease, & endocrinologist who should be well aware of it seem to easily dismiss it as not thyroid related / not serious enough / not in timing with Graves diagnosis.
The first issue being it’s not always associated with Graves & I’ve also read TRab TSI formation is not always present.
See my profile history & the battle I’m having.
History of iodine, cretinism, hypo etc 
For those Graves (hyperthyroid) patients who may be suffering from eye symptoms
Thyroid Eye disease & Statins
