title: Statins in acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: Statins are the main resource available to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels. Their continuous use decreases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to atherosclerosis. The administration of these medications demonstrated to be effective in primary and secondary prevention clinical trials in low and high risk patients. Specialists believe that a possible benefit of hypolipidemic therapy in preventing complications of atherosclerotic diseases is in the reduction of deposition of atherogenic lipoproteins in vulnerable areas of the vasculature. Experimental studies with statins have shown an enormous variety of other effects that could extend the clinical benefit beyond the lipid profile modification itself. Statin-based therapies benefit other important components of the atherothrombotic process: inflammation, oxidation, coagulation, fibrinolysis, endothelial function, vasoreactivity and platelet function. The demonstration of the effects that do not depend on cholesterol lowering or the pleiotropic effects of statins provides the theoretical basis for their potential role as adjunctive therapy in acute coronary syndromes. Retrospective analyses of a variety of studies indicate the potential benefit of statins during acute coronary events. Recent clinical studies have addressed this important issue in prospective controlled trials showing strong evidence for the administration of statins as adjunctive therapy in acute coronary syndromes.
authors: Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Alexandre Russo
authors: AR
authors: Sposito
authors: Gentil Barreira de
authors: GB
authors: Aguiar Filho
authors: Amanda Rezende
authors: AR
authors: Aarão
authors: Francisco Thiago Tomaz de
authors: FT
authors: Sousa
authors: Marcelo Chiara
authors: MC
authors: Bertolami
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents