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Statin‐Associated Pleiotropy: Possible Beneficial Effects Beyond Cholesterol Reduction
Author(s) -
Ito Matthew K.,
Talbert Robert L.,
Tsimikas Sotirios
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.26.7part2.85s
Subject(s) - pleiotropy , cholesterol , medicine , statin , oxidative stress , inflammation , coronary heart disease , mechanism (biology) , pharmacology , biology , biochemistry , phenotype , philosophy , epistemology , gene
Because elevated serum cholesterol levels are strongly associated with coronary heart disease, cholesterol reduction by 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (or statins) has been assumed to be the predominant, if not the only, mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of these drugs in cardiovascular diseases. Subgroup analyses of large clinical trials, however, have suggested that the beneficial effects of statins may extend to mechanisms beyond cholesterol reduction. Indeed, recent experimental and clinical evidence indicates that some of the cholesterol‐independent or “pleiotropic” effects of statins may be mediated through improving or restoring endothelial function, enhancing the stability of atherosclerotic plaques, and decreasing oxidative stress and vascular inflammation.