PMID- 21478744
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20111115
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 1531-7080 (Electronic)
IS  - 0268-4705 (Linking)
VI  - 26
IP  - 4
DP  - 2011 Jul
TI  - Pulmonary arterial hypertension and statins: an update.
PG  - 322-6
LID - 10.1097/HCO.0b013e32834659bf [doi]
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has a multifactorial 
      aetiology that includes endothelial dysfunction as a key component. 
      Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors and endothelin-1 antagonists influence 
      endothelial function and are used in the treatment of PAH. Statins improve 
      endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and vascular endothelial function in 
      several vascular beds. However, the effects of statins on PAH are currently being 
      investigated. RECENT FINDINGS: Different statins were shown to improve 
      biomarkers, cardiovascular physiology and lung function in animal models of PAH. 
      Human studies are limited, with one observational study showing benefits, but 
      results from small, short-term randomized trials have been conflicting. A study 
      with pravastatin showed general benefits on both biomarkers and lung physiology, 
      whereas the Simvastatin as a Treatment for Pulmonary Hypertension Trial with 
      simvastatin added to PDE-5 inhibitors and endothelin-1 antagonists showed 
      transient improvement in biomarkers but not in physiological markers over 1 year. 
      Similarly, rosuvastatin showed benefits on biomarkers but not on physiological 
      function at 6 months. SUMMARY: Statins seem to improve biomarkers in human PAH, 
      but as yet studies are too preliminary to indicate whether these effects are 
      clinically relevant.
FAU - Katsiki, Niki
AU  - Katsiki N
AD  - Department of Clinical Biochemistry (Vascular Disease Prevention Clinics), Royal 
      Free Hospital Campus, University College London Medical School, University 
      College London, UK.
FAU - Wierzbicki, Anthony S
AU  - Wierzbicki AS
FAU - Mikhailidis, Dimitri P
AU  - Mikhailidis DP
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Review
PL  - United States
TA  - Curr Opin Cardiol
JT  - Current opinion in cardiology
JID - 8608087
RN  - 0 (Biomarkers)
RN  - 0 (Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Biomarkers/blood
MH  - Disease Models, Animal
MH  - Dyslipidemias/complications/*drug therapy
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/blood/*pharmacology
MH  - Hypertension, Pulmonary/*prevention & control
MH  - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
MH  - Treatment Outcome
EDAT- 2011/04/12 06:00
MHDA- 2011/11/16 06:00
CRDT- 2011/04/12 06:00
PHST- 2011/04/12 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2011/04/12 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2011/11/16 06:00 [medline]
AID - 10.1097/HCO.0b013e32834659bf [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Curr Opin Cardiol. 2011 Jul;26(4):322-6. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0b013e32834659bf.