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Home / Ask the Expert / Autoimmune Disease Affects Cholesterol

Autoimmune Disease Affects Cholesterol

March 30, 2007 By Arthritis Center

Question

Doctor, please help me. I have been diagnosed with an autoimmune, connective tissue disease called Cogans. I am currently on 15-23 medications a day and have been for the past 5 years. MY QUESTION IS — somewhere and sometime I read that it is totally natural for cholesterol levels to gradually increase due to the disease and/or medication. Am I correct? My family doctor does not believe me and I don’t remember where I read it. PLEASE, can you help?

Answer

The big issue is prednisone use and the elevation of cholesterol. I am not aware of the disease itself or any of the other commonly used immunosuppressive medications increasing cholesterol levels.

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