Benefits of statins beyond lipid lowering

Increasing evidence has accumulated suggesting that inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, or statins, have therapeutic ‘pleiotropic’ effects independent of cholesterol lowering. These include anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, improvement of endothelial function and increased nitric oxide bioavailability. In addition to elucidating underlying mechanisms, research on ‘pleiotropic’ effects of statins has added a wide scope of potential targets for statin therapy ranging from acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) to renal failure, neurologic disorders and infectious diseases to name just a few.

Section editor:Christian Weber – Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany