title: Beneficial cardiovascular pleiotropic effects of statins.
abstract: Pleiotropic effects of a drug are actions other than those for which the agent was specifically developed. These effects may be related or unrelated to the primary mechanism of action of the drug, and they are usually unanticipated. Pleiotropic effects may be undesirable (such as side effects or toxicity), neutral, or, as is especially the case with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), beneficial. Pleiotropic effects of statins include improvement of endothelial dysfunction, increased nitric oxide bioavailability, antioxidant properties, inhibition of inflammatory responses, and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. These and several other emergent properties could act in concert with the potent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering effects of statins to exert early as well as lasting cardiovascular protective effects. Understanding the pleiotropic effects of statins is important to optimize their use in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Hyperlipidemia and Atherosclerosis Research Group, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada. davignj@ircm.qc.ca
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davignon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein