ITP and Statins

I have just become aware of the possible link between Statin drugs and the development of ITP. Has anyone heard or know more about this?

Statins "(HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver."

They include "atorvastatin (Lipitor and Torvast), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor, Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo, Pitava), pravastatin (Pravachol, Selektine, Lipostat), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor, Lipex)." (wikipwdia)

I had been taking one of them for over a year prior to being diagnosed with ITP.

And I am not certain this a proper questions for the Discussion group.
Clem

I would have thought that if you'd taken the drug this week and got ITP next, you'd be able to say with some certainty that it was the cause. Other than that the link is tenuous and you'll never really know. Might be worth avoiding it in future though just in case, although you then have to weigh up the pros and cons of living with the drug or with the condition that the drug was going to treat.

Clem - most drugs list ITP as a possible side effect. Some tend to trigger it more than others. As Ann said, it's impossible to know if the statin was the cause in your case.

I have been on and off various statins for more than ten years. I religiously record all of my counts, and I have never seen a correlation between statins and counts. Of course, that's just me.