title: Statins and noncardiac vascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the beneficial effects of statin treatment in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and carotid artery disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence suggests that statins may reduce the progression (or even reverse the development) of carotid artery stenosis and AAAs. Statins also improve several indices (e.g. serum creatinine) and preserve renal function in ARAS. In patients with PAD, statins are associated with improved claudication distance and time, reduced cardiovascular events, and improved graft patency rates should these patients undergo surgery. Finally, statins are associated with improved perioperative and long-term morbidity and mortality rates in all vascular patients whether they undergo surgery or endovascular procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine statin treatment should be implemented for all vascular patients to ensure a reduced progression of their disease, as well as a reduction in cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum Nürnberg Süd, Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kosmas I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Paraskevas
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors