Cardiovascular research
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Cardiovascular research · Sep 2000
ReviewEffects of statins on vascular wall: vasomotor function, inflammation, and plaque stability.
Clinical trials of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statin therapy demonstrate an improvement in cardiovascular end points and coronary stenosis. However, an improvement in cardiovascular end points and coronary stenosis is incompletely explained by the baseline or treated LDL cholesterol level. The beneficial effects of statins on clinical events may involve nonlipid mechanisms that modify endothelial function, smooth muscle cells, and monocyte-macrophage: vasomotor function, inflammatory responses, and plaque stability. ⋯ Statins have been shown to prevent the activation of monocytes into macrophages, inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein, and cellular adhesion molecules. Statins decrease the adhesion of monocyte to endothelial cells. Accordingly, statins exert their cardiovascular benefits through a direct antiatherogenic properties in the arterial wall, beyond their effects on plasma lipids.