Effects of statin therapy on vascular dysfunction.
Dyslipidemia and vascular inflammation play critical roles in the onset of acute coronary syndromes including myocardial infarction. Recent advances in cardiovascular medicine demonstrate that lipid-lowering therapy by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) prevents acute coronary complications, probably by limiting inflammation in atheroma. Although a number of studies have suggested various effects of statins on vascular dysfunction independent of lipid lowering, the clinical benefits of such effects are not established as yet.
Aikawa
Masanori
M
Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA. maikawa@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors