title: Does the prevalence of nasal polyps increase in patients using statins?
abstract: Several statins inhibit T-helper 1 development and induce T-helper 2 polarization and production of T-helper 2 cytokines that promote the activation and chemotaxis of eosinophils. Whether statins promote the development of nasal polyps has so far been uncertain. No studies have evaluated the frequency of the development of nasal polyps in patients using statins. To better define the relationship of statin use to the presence of nasal polyps, the investigators explored the frequency of the development of nasal polyps in patients who were using statins. A total of 200 patients who were using statins and 200 who were not using statins (400 cases) were investigated. All patients were examined for nasal polyps by anterior rhinoscopy or investigation with a fiberoptic endoscope. In addition, immunoglobulin E levels were measured, a skin prick test was performed, and the results from the 2 groups were compared. Nasal polyps were detected in 4 subjects who were using statins, whereas 5 nasal polyps were found in the control group; differences between the 2 groups were statistically insignificant (P>.05). When the atopy status of the 2 groups was compared, prick test positivity and serum immunoglobulin E levels were found to be 15% and 44+/-31 IU/mL in the statin group and 19% and 68+/-23 IU/mL in the control group (P>.05). These results show that nasal polyposis is a multifactorial disease with several different causes; however, the frequency of the development of nasal polyps does not increase in patients who use statins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izzet Baysal Faculty of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey. yilmazfahrettin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fahrettin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gunduz
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arinc
authors.forename: Fahrettin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Talay
authors.forename: Serhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozyildirim
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akyurek
authors.forename: Cihangir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uyan
mesh_terms: D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007073:Immunoglobulin E