Statins in Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension – A Brief Review

Abstract

Nowadays the cirrhosis physiopatology is being deeply studied and new pharmacology approach comes with new perspective of changing natural history and initial steps of the disease. The statins have many properties in this sense. These drugs have demonstrated effects improving portal hypertension, liver functions, hepatocellular carcinoma with few side effects. Its action mechanism happens predominantly in intrahepatic environment, what seems very attractive. Some studies were conducted in animals and very few in human beings. This brief review aim to address advantages of the use of statins in liver disease. One question still open is which statin is the best in liver disease and which population of cirrhotic profit the most of the drug.