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Let's find out why pregnant women (women who may become pregnant) need to be careful when taking statin drugs, which are widely used to treat hyperlipidemia.
A condition in which lipid components in the blood increase is called hyperlipidemia.
If total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher, LDL cholesterol is 130 mg/dL or higher, and triglycerides are 150 mg/dL or higher after a blood test after fasting, it is diagnosed as hyperlipidemia.
If lipid components increase, they accumulate in the blood vessel walls, causing atherosclerosis,
and as a result, can cause cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, angina, and myocardial infarction.
Is cholesterol bad for the body?
Cholesterol is synthesized in our bodies, but it is also consumed through food. Cholesterol is a fatty component that forms the cell membranes of our body, and is an essential substance for making hormones that help the body function, bile acids necessary for digestion, vitamin D, etc.
However, if cholesterol becomes excessive, it can accumulate in the blood vessel walls,
causing arteriosclerosis or heart disease.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can cause heart disease when it accumulates in the blood vessels,
but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) actually lowers the risk of heart disease as the level increases.
Statin drug treatment
Statin drugs are widely used to treat hyperlipidemia.
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This drug acts as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, which inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol, and intensively lowers blood LDL-cholesterol and also lowers some neutral fat.
It also increases HDL cholesterol levels, but the effect is mild, as it only increases by 5-10% of the original level.
Rosuvastatin (product name Crestor tablets) and Atorvastatin (Lipitor tablets) are contraindicated in pregnancy.
Currently, statin drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy.
The approval of Crestor tablets (ingredient: Rosuvastatin) states, "The safety of this drug for pregnant and lactating women has not been established, so it should not be used during pregnancy or lactation."
However, it also states, "Administer this drug only when there is a high possibility of pregnancy when administered to women of childbearing age, and when informed of the potential risk to the fetus," indicating that it can be administered to some pregnant women.
The US FDA distributed a safety letter in 2021 to remove the warning that it should not be used in pregnant women. This means that it can be taken when it can prevent severe or potentially fatal symptoms in pregnant women.
This includes patients at high risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
It is also recommended that after giving birth, mothers should not breastfeed and use alternatives such as formula milk.
Statin-based drug treatment is still not recommended for pregnant women.
Why should pregnant women (women who may become pregnant) be careful about taking statin-based drugs?
During pregnancy, cholesterol is essential for the formation of fetal cell membranes and hormone synthesis.
Cholesterol is an important lipid component in the development of the fetus, especially in the development of the nervous system and brain.
Taking statin-based drugs during pregnancy can cause problems in fetal development.
Not only does taking the drug lower the cholesterol level of the pregnant woman, but the drug also passes through the placenta and interferes with the fetus' cholesterol metabolism.
This can cause malformations such as brain development disorders and neural tube defects.
Also, the drug can cause liver and kidney damage in the fetus, leading to dysfunction.
