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Multiple Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease pp 253–265Cite as

Effect of Statins Beyond Lowering Cholesterol: Where Do We Stand?

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Part of the book series: Medical Science Symposia Series ((MSSS,volume 12))

Abstract

The relation between elevated plasma cholesterol levels and risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) has been established by numerous large-scale epidemiological trials [1]. Several clinical trials have firmly established that aggressive manipulation and normalization of elevated total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by pharmacological means reduce both the progression of atherosclerosis and the incidence of coronary events [2–4]. A number of cholesterol lowering drugs are currently available for human use [2,5]. In the last decade, a new class of agents which specifically inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, has been developed [6]. Six HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are available for clinical use: lovastatin, cerivastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and fluvastatin [7–11]. The available clinical data for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors demonstrate their efficacy and safety in treating hypercholesterolemia and improving long-term morbidity and mortality related to CHD [12]. It has been assumed that, in atherosclerotic patients, any beneficial effect of statins is linked to their hypolipidemic properties, suggesting that this is the main mechanism for preventing the development of atherosclerosis [13,14].

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Authors
  1. Pierangelo Quarato
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  2. Nicola Ferri
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  3. Lorenzo Arnaboldi
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  4. Remo Fumagalli
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  5. Rodolfo Paoletti
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  6. Alberto Corsini
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, Room F-105, New York, NY, USA

    Antonio M. Gotto Jr.

  2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA

    C. Lenfant

  3. Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Rodolfo Paoletti  & A. L. Catapano  & 

  4. Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation, Houston, TX, USA

    A. S. Jackson

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Quarato, P., Ferri, N., Arnaboldi, L., Fumagalli, R., Paoletti, R., Corsini, A. (1998). Effect of Statins Beyond Lowering Cholesterol: Where Do We Stand?. In: Gotto, A.M., Lenfant, C., Paoletti, R., Catapano, A.L., Jackson, A.S. (eds) Multiple Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease. Medical Science Symposia Series, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5022-4_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5022-4_30

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6108-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5022-4

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