title: Statins, haemostatic factors and thrombotic risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statins reduce cholesterol synthesis and promote low-density lipoprotein clearance from circulation. Beyond their cholesterol-lowering action, statins may interfere with haemostasis. This review aims to provide an update on the impact of statin treatment on markers of haemostasis and platelet function and on thrombosis-related outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different coagulation factors are modulated by statins, leading to inhibition of coagulation and increased fibrinolysis. Also, an impact of statins on platelet function has been documented. From a clinical perspective, several observational studies have revealed a reduced incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients receiving statins, which has been argued in some available studies and meta-analyses. Furthermore, a beneficial effect of early statin initiation following acute coronary syndrome for short-term prevention of thrombosis-related events has been documented, but the available data are still not consistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although statins influence the levels of a multitude of haemostatic factors in an antithrombotic direction, data supporting their use for venous thromboembolism prevention are not consistent, and the impact of statins on early vascular events following acute coronary syndrome is still debated. Whether the robust long-term beneficial effects of statins in reducing cardiovascular risk may be also explained by persistent changes in haemostatic factors needs further exploration.
authors.affiliation: aUnit of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy bBiotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran cMetabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia dDepartment of Hypertension, WAM University Hospital in Lodz, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianconi
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirro
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006490:Hemostatics; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006490:Hemostatics; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors