title: Clinical evidence of statin therapy in non-dyslipidemic disorders.
abstract: The clinical benefits of statins are strongly related to their low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering properties. However, considering that the pharmacological target of statins, the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, is one of the upstream enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, its inhibition may determine a substantial impoverishment of additional lipid moieties required for a proper cellular function. From this hypothesis, several experimental and clinical evidences have been reported indicating additional effects of statins beyond the LDL-C lowering, in particular anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Thus statin therapy, indicated for hyperlipidemic patients for primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) has begun to be considered effective in other diseases not necessarily linked to altered lipid profile. In the present review we summarized the current clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety profile of statins in a variety of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, venous thromboembolism, liver diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome, and age-related macular degeneration. As discussed in the review, pending large, well designed, randomized trials, it is reasonable to conclude that there is no definitive evidence for the use of statins in the aforementioned diseases.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: nicola.ferri@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corsini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008798:Mevalonic Acid
keywords: Liver diseases; Macular degeneration; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Rheumatoid arthritis; Statins; Venous thromboembolism