Abstract

ECHEVERRI, Darío; BUITRAGO, Lorena  and  MONTES, Félix R. Pleiotropic effect of statins: Useful pharmacological characteristics in prevention, treatment and regression of cardiovascular disease. Rev. Col. Cardiol. [online]. 2005, vol.12, n.3, pp.95-102. ISSN 0120-5633.

Among the beneficial results of statins in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, other effects not related to the hypolipemic action have been demonstrated in multiple studies. Experimental in vitro and ex-vivo studies have documented a great evidence of different effects such as an increment in the nitric oxide (NO) expression, as well as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-thrombotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-oxidant effects. These are the pleiotropic effects. The potent hypolipemic and pleiotropic effects could explain the benefit in atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, aortic stenosis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and post-transplant rejection, among other pathologies. Nevertheless, the amount of experimental information in favour of these effects should stimulate the initiation of better studies in order to clarify in an accurate way its clinical significance.

Keywords : atherosclerosis; hyperlipidemia; inflammation; pleiotropic effects; statins.

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