title: The treatment of coronary heart disease: an update. Part 3: Statins beyond cholesterol lowering.
abstract: Statins may have additional properties beyond diminishing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. These actions could reduce the risk of vascular events. For example, these lipid lowering drugs act on the vascular endothelium, smooth muscle, haemostatic factors and the vessel wall. There are several differences in how statins act on these systems. These observations, in turn, lead to the conclusion that all statins may not be equally effective in terms of vascular disease prevention.
authors.affiliation: Onasion Cardiothoracic Surgery Centre, First Cardiology Department, 356 Sygrou Avenue, Kallithea, Athens 176 74, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolovou
mesh_terms: D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol