The effect of statins in heart failure: beyond its cholesterol-lowering effect.
BACKGROUND
Statins known as 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) are designed to lower plasma cholesterol levels. They are used to treat hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease patients, heart transplant recipients, in prevention of Alzheimer's dementia, multiple sclerosis, and have also been shown to reduce cancer risk.


RESULTS
The idea of statin treatment in chronic heart failure is not well established. It has been shown to be beneficial in patients with ischemic heart disease with heart failure. Emerging trends show their usefulness in patients with nonischemic heart failure. Statins exhibit pleiotropic effects in stabilizing the atherosclerotic plaques, improvement of endothelial function, inhibition of cell migration and proliferation, and reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress. They also improve autonomic function with an increased parasympathetic drive, downregulate the angiotensin II type I receptors, and induce angiogenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
This article is a review on the current knowledge on statin use in heart failure.
Kurian
Kizhake C
KC
Division of Cardiology, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida 32223, USA.
Rai
Prithviraj
P
Sankaran
Sunder
S
Jacob
Binu
B
Chiong
Jun
J
Miller
Alan B
AB
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol