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(Circulation. 2004;109:III-39 – III-43.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis: Evolving Vascular Biology and Clinical Implications

Beneficial Cardiovascular Pleiotropic Effects of Statins

Jean Davignon, MD

From the Hyperlipidemia and Atherosclerosis Research Group, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.

Correspondence to Jean Davignon, MD, IRCM, 110 Pine Ave W, Montreal, QC Canada H2W 1R7. E-mail davignj{at}ircm.qc.ca

Pleiotropic effects of a drug are actions other than those for which the agent was specifically developed. These effects may be related or unrelated to the primary mechanism of action of the drug, and they are usually unanticipated. Pleiotropic effects may be undesirable (such as side effects or toxicity), neutral, or, as is especially the case with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), beneficial. Pleiotropic effects of statins include improvement of endothelial dysfunction, increased nitric oxide bioavailability, antioxidant properties, inhibition of inflammatory responses, and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. These and several other emergent properties could act in concert with the potent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering effects of statins to exert early as well as lasting cardiovascular protective effects. Understanding the pleiotropic effects of statins is important to optimize their use in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Key Words: endothelial dysfunction • inflammation • oxidation • pleiotropic effects • statins

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