Everyone I meet with SS seems to also have high cholesterol. I think Nat said there was a correlation with our messed up digestive processes but I thought if it's genetic, the liver is the culprit in producing the LDL "bad" cholesterol. Or....is it just an age coincidence....a lot of us are in our 50's and have our cholesterol checked regularly???
Gee, Gold, I don't know.
I don't have SJS, just a bunch of the conditions.
And I have had sky high Cholesterol since I was like 37, back in the 70's before statin drugs were even developed.
I've taken the statins since they came on the market, and still developed Coronary Artery Disease.
I take 80 mg of Lipitor daily. And I've been at that dose for 12 years since my angioplasties and stents.
I Googled Sjogren's and cholesterol and this seems to be the only study, which finds lower cholesterol in patients with Sjogren's.
Serum lipid levels in Sj?gren's syndrome
In conclusion, HDL and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in primary SS patients than xerostomic controls, and in SS patients low total and HDL cholesterol levels were associated with serologically active disease
http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/4/481.full
I don't know what the correlation you've noticed is, but I think the age thing might be part of it. And since so many Americans carry extra weight, that also might be a correlation.
Does anyone else have other research they've found?
I hope this helps.
Hugs
Elaine
Hi Gold,
I have Sjogren's and my cholesterol levels have always been very good. So I don't see any correlation for myself. And yes, I'm in my fifties. :P
I think more importantly, some of the risk factors are smoking, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, diabetes, and family history of heart disease.
thanks Carolina and Carebear :) Boy Carolina you sure have had your share!! I think I've been running high since my late 30's or early 40's and I'm still not on statins >:( I tried everything natural and my doc and I even did an experiment where I ate zero cholesterol foods, lost 18 lbs and my cholesterol actually went up a few points so she told me that mine is genetic and I should be on the statins. My primary care started me on statins but I was taking indocin for my joints at the time, my heartburn got real bad and so I stopped all meds. My doc said that the statins can do a number on the stomach but I'm thinking about starting them back up. He didn't want me to worry about muscle, joint aches from the statins during the beginning of my diagnosis so he said if push came to shove he'd stop the statins.
High cholesterol is associated with hypothyroidism which often goes hand in hand with SJS...perhaps that is the culprit.
Hi :)
Interesting. When I was dxd as hypothyroid my cholesterol was 9. After thyroxine it dropped back. I was never put on meds for high cholesterol. I've recently been for an ECG and seen a cardiologist. He initially thought my cholesterol was high. It was 6. When he looked closer it turned out my 'good' cholesterol is 3 times higher than normal. So 6 is OK. I attribute it to a good diet and also 3000mg of fish oil daily.
Take care - Scottie :)
Well, I'm hypothyroid too. Humm. Not that I'm unhappy my cholesterol is normal. ;)
Gold, have you ever tried niaspan? It's a high dose of niacin (vitamin B3), and doesn't have the side effects of statins. I know not everyone has successful results but perhaps you can do some research, then speak with your doctor.