Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 12, Issue 6 , Pages 473-478, August 2006

The Effect of Statins in Heart Failure: Beyond its Cholesterol-Lowering Effect

  • Kizhake C. Kurian, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Division of Cardiology, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: K. C. Kurian, MD, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Division of Cardiology, 655 W 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32223.
    • ,
  • Prithviraj Rai, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Division of Cardiology, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
    • ,
  • Sunder Sankaran, MD

      Affiliations

    • University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
    • ,
  • Binu Jacob, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Division of Cardiology, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
    • ,
  • Jun Chiong, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Division of Cardiology, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
    • ,
  • Alan B. Miller, MD, FACC

      Affiliations

    • From the Division of Cardiology, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida

Received 21 December 2005; received in revised form 29 January 2006; accepted 3 February 2006.

Jacksonville, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan

Abstract 

Background

Statins known as 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) are designed to lower plasma cholesterol levels. They are used to treat hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease patients, heart transplant recipients, in prevention of Alzheimer's dementia, multiple sclerosis, and have also been shown to reduce cancer risk.

Methods and Results

The idea of statin treatment in chronic heart failure is not well established. It has been shown to be beneficial in patients with ischemic heart disease with heart failure. Emerging trends show their usefulness in patients with nonischemic heart failure. Statins exhibit pleiotropic effects in stabilizing the atherosclerotic plaques, improvement of endothelial function, inhibition of cell migration and proliferation, and reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress. They also improve autonomic function with an increased parasympathetic drive, downregulate the angiotensin II type I receptors, and induce angiogenesis.

Conclusion

This article is a review on the current knowledge on statin use in heart failure.

Key Words: Inflammation, HMG-CoA, G-proteins, Cardiomyopathy

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PII: S1071-9164(06)00063-7

doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2006.02.001

Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 12, Issue 6 , Pages 473-478, August 2006

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