title: The Use of Statins in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Solid Organ Transplantation.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell  transplantation and solid organ transplantation have become established  treatments offered to patients for whom there are otherwise no curative  treatment options. Unfortunately, these therapeutic modalities are associated  with severe complications that limit its applicability. Alloimmunity is an  important cause of morbidity and mortality after both organ transplantation and  allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and represents a major  barrier to the more wide-spread use of these treatment modalities. Statins are  a class of lipid-lowering drugs, which also posses immunomodulatory effects. Results  from preclinial research and early-stage clinical studies indicate that  treatment with statins could be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of  graft-versus-host disease and transplant rejection. In addition to preventing graft-versus-host disease or  graft rejection statins possess several other effects that might prove beneficial  in the setting of transplantation, such as cardiovascular protection and  antineoplastic activity. Here we summarize the current knowledge about  the immunomodulatory effects of statins and discuss the clinical implications  for their use in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation or solid organ  transplantation.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. alexander.shimabukuro-vornhagen@uk-koeln.de.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Shimabukuro-Vornhagen
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Schlösser
authors: Tulay
authors: T
authors: Kisner
authors: Dirk L
authors: DL
authors: Stippel
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: von Bergwelt-Baildon