Emerging indications for statins: a pluripotent family of agents with several potential applications.
Statins are pluripotent agents exhibiting multiple non-lipid-lowering actions. Besides their established role in the management of hypercholesterolemia, statins may also have beneficial actions in other pathological conditions, namely: a) osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related bone fractures, b) cancer, c) solid organ transplantation, d) cerebrovascular events (transient ischemic attack and stroke episodes), e) various neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, f) cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure, g) renal diseases, h) rheumatoid arthritis, i) autoimmune diseases, j) sepsis, and k) allergic asthma. We reviewed the literature searching for studies that support or oppose the use of statins in each proposed indication. In some of these emerging indications, a role for statin treatment is more firmly set; for others, current evidence is more controversial. Future trials may reveal more convincing evidence that will make statin use necessary in the therapeutic management of several diseases.
Paraskevas
Kosmas I
KI
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
Tzovaras
Alexandros A
AA
Briana
Despina D
DD
Mikhailidis
Dimitri P
DP
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents