PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This is a review of recent experimental and clinical evidence for the use of perioperative statins to reduce cardiovascular complications. RECENT FINDINGS: Clinical trials have demonstrated an improved survival of statin users in the perioperative period. This beneficial effect of statins is ascribed to the non-lipid lowering effect to stabilize vulnerable plaques, thereby preventing myocardial ischaemia and infarction. The proposed mechanism of this cardioprotective effect is by the anti-inflammatory properties of statins. The fear of adverse perioperative effects of statin use, i.e. rhabdomyolysis, has not been confirmed in clinical studies. SUMMARY: The anti-inflammatory properties of statins appear to have an important effect on coronary plaque stabilization in the perioperative setting, resulting in a reduction in perioperative cardiovascular complications.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This is a review of recent experimental and clinical evidence for the use of perioperative statins to reduce cardiovascular complications. RECENT FINDINGS: Clinical trials have demonstrated an improved survival of statin users in the perioperative period. This beneficial effect of statins is ascribed to the non-lipid lowering effect to stabilize vulnerable plaques, thereby preventing myocardial ischaemia and infarction. The proposed mechanism of this cardioprotective effect is by the anti-inflammatory properties of statins. The fear of adverse perioperative effects of statin use, i.e. rhabdomyolysis, has not been confirmed in clinical studies. SUMMARY: The anti-inflammatory properties of statins appear to have an important effect on coronary plaque stabilization in the perioperative setting, resulting in a reduction in perioperative cardiovascular complications.
Authors: Christian H P Jansen; Carolin Reimann; Julia Brangsch; René M Botnar; Marcus R Makowski Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-06-05 Impact factor: 3.240