[Statins have other beneficial properties besides their cholesterol lowering effect]

Abstract

Statins, i.e. HMG-CoA (3-hydroxymethyl-glutaryl co-enzyme A) reductase inhibitors, are widely used in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia. Several large trials published during recent years have clearly shown treatment with statins to reduce coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality rates, the beneficial effects being manifest sooner than expected. Despite the smallness of changes in lumen diameter during statin treatment, as measured with coronary angiography, the decrease in clinical events has been impressive. The question has therefore arisen of whether statins have other beneficial effects in addition to their lipid-lowering property. Several studies have been made of the effects of statin treatment on such variables as endothelial function, cellular immunity, lipoprotein oxidation, rheological factors, and the stabilisation of atherosclerotic plaque. Although the various statins differ in structure, there is a lack of comparative studies. However, available data suggest the beneficial effects of statins on other variables to be probably dependent on their primary lipid-lowering property.