(April 29, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may reduce the risk of blood clots developing in the veins, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information about blood clots:

•       They can form in the arteries or veins.

•       Blood clots that form blockages in the arteries that feed the heart or brain can cause heart attacks and strokes.

•       Blood clots that form deep in the veins can break free or "embolize" and lodge in the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School randomly assigned nearly 18,000 healthy adults without high cholesterol to receive 20 mg of the statin drug rosuvastatin daily or a placebo.

After nearly two years, those taking the statin were significantly less likely to experience venous thromboembolism, including VTE that occurred unexpectedly or was brought on by illness, injury, hospitalization, or surgery. There was no increased risk of experiencing severe bleeding.

Today's research suggests that, in addition to their ability to lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots in the arteries, statins can also prevent blood clots from forming in the veins.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.