The fault is probably with the reporter and not Wolfe.

Zee

It was the right decision: Zee

We Are Sleep-Walking Into What Could Become A Major Medical Disaster
Because Statin Drugs Will Soon Be Sold Over-The-Counter

By Dr. Malcolm Kendrick

1. Holoprosencephaly (defective septum separating lateral cerebral
ventricles, with cerebral dysfunction), atrial septal defect, aortic
hypoplasia, death at one month of age.

2. Aqueductal stenosis with hydrocephalus, concurrent limb
deficiency

3. Cerivothoracic-to-lumbar neural-tube defect, myelocele,
duplication of spinal cord, cerbellar hernation with hydrocephalus;
apparent agenesis of palate

4. Spina bifida, right-arm abnormality

5. Left leg: femur 16% shorter than right side; foot: aplasia of
metatarsals and phalanges 3,4 and 5; additional VACTERL (vertebral,
anal, cardiac, tracheal, esophageal, renal and limb defects): left
renal dysplasia, reversed laterality of aorta, disorganized lumbosacral
vertebra, single umbilical artery; additional findings: clitoral
hypertrophy, vaginal and uterine agenesis.

It always amazes me that some things seem to strike terror into the
hearts of mankind whilst other, much more dangerous things, are
accepted with a shrug of the shoulders. As my son has taken to saying
'Yeh, whatever.'

Around the world, for example, car crashes wipe out thousands of people
each and every day, yet few people worry about getting into a car. On
the other hand, one plane comes down; killing a couple of hundred, and
it hits the front page of the newspapers around the world. And we are
all nervous about getting into planes - especially the landing bit.

The things that frighten us, it seems, bear absolutely no relationship
to the level of risk that they represent.

Looking at a medical example of irrational fear, the world still reels
in terror at the word "thalidomide." However, it turns out that
this drug provides huge benefits in the treatment of myeloma - who
would ever have thought? Yet, it is almost impossible to prescribe
thalidomide to many who need it, due to extremely strict controls on
its use. Which is completely mad, because it only has one major side
effect, which is to cause birth abnormalities in pregnant women.

So, why is it so difficult to prescribe it to a seventy-year-old man?
Because it is thalidomide, and thalidomide is scary.

On the other hand, in the UK we are going to allow statins to be made
available over the counter and - hey, guess what? If you are a woman,
and you get pregnant whilst on statins there is a massive risk of
severe, horrible birth defects. Worse defects than were ever caused by
thalidomide.

At least thalidomide didn't affect the brain, causing 'defective
septum separating lateral cerebral ventricles', or 'duplication of
the spinal cord.' Duplication of the spinal cord!

We are sleep-walking into what could be a major medical disaster. Most
people, and most doctors, are unaware - or don't seem to care -
that statins should never ever be taken by a women of child-bearing
age. The risk, it would seem, is greater than that posed by
thalidomide, and no-one seems to be the least bit bothered. 'Yeh,
whatever.'

Yet, when statins go OTC it is absolutely certain that women of
childbearing age will take them, knowing nothing of this risk. It is
equally certain that a number of these women will become pregnant, and
many of these pregnancies will result in horribly deformed children.

How can this possibly be allowed to happen? I can only suppose that it
is because everyone believes statins to be utterly safe and cuddly.
'Statins, why they can't do any harm. They are safer than aspirin
aren't they?'

* Left arm: aplasia of radius and thumb, shortened ulna; additional
VACTERL (vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheal, esophageal, renal and limb
defects): left arthrogryposis, thoracic scoliosis, fusion of ribs on
left, butterfly vertebra in thoracic and lumbar region, esophageal
stricture, anal atresia, renal dysplasia; additional findings:
hemihypertrophy of entire left side, craniofacial anomalies (including
asymmetric ears, ptosis of eyelids, high arched palate), torticollis.

I am quite certain that many of you won't know what some of these
defects actually are; neither do I. Arthrogryposis..... isn't that
the fabled winged beast in Harry Potter?

But these defects shouldn't exactly come as a surprise. Cholesterol
is essential for the development of neural tissue, so we should expect
to find that if the mother is taking a drug that inhibits cholesterol
synthesis at a time when the fetus is developing - horrible
developmental abnormalities will occur. Such as failure of the brain to
develop in the right way, or duplication of the spinal cord.

For more complete details of the birth defects caused by statins
consider reading the New England Journal of Medicine, April 8, 2004:
pages 1579 - 1582. It's a letter by Robin J Edison and Maximilian
Muenke.

"MrPepper11" <MrPepper11@go.com> wrote in news:1105738610.792851.269590
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

It was the right decision: L.

[snip all the worthless bullshit...]

L.