title: The role of statin treatment in valvular heart disease: is the jury still out?
abstract: Valvular heart disease (VHD) represents a significant burden within the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, there has been a great interest in finding medical treatments able to slow the progression ofVHD. The negative results of several large randomized trials failing to demonstrate a benefit of such therapies, has led to a decrease of interest in this field. However, finding a medical treatment capable of preventing VHD progression is still a hot topic, due to the important clinical implications. We believe that the jury is still out on the debate about the role of statin therapy in VHD, considering also recently published studies providing new information with future implications for the treatment of this disease process. This article gives an overview of the published evidence about the role of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors on delaying progressive valve dysfunction. A preventive therapy, which could influence not only the haemodynamic progression of valve disease, but also the cardiovascular outcome, is warranted. Large, prospective, randomized trials are needed to properly evaluate the role of statins in the early stages of valvular heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiology, ARC, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Maria degli Angeli, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antonini-Canterin
authors.forename: Anca D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mateescu
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ginghină
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lancellotti
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cosyns
authors.forename: Bogdan A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Popescu
mesh_terms: D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors