The antiplatelet and antithrombotic actions of statins.
Several studies over the last years have demonstrated that statins exhibit actions beyond that of lipid-lowering (pleiotropic effects) ranging from improving endothelial function, modulating the inflammatory response, maintaining plaque stability and preventing thrombus formation. Since the interplay among platelets, cells and other components of atherosclerotic lesions as well as the coagulation system play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis and in the development of acute coronary syndromes, these non-lipid properties of statins may help to explain the early and significant reduction of cardiovascular events reported in several clinical trials of statin therapy. This review focuses on the experimental and clinical results regarding the antiplatelet/antithrombotic effects of statins.
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry University of Ioannina 45110, Ioannina Greece.
John V
JV
Mitsios
Athanasios I
AI
Papathanasiou
John A
JA
Goudevenos
Alexandros D
AD
Tselepis
D000991:Antithrombins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000991:Antithrombins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors