Statins in the treatment of chronic heart failure: Beyond the hypolipidemic effects

Abstract

Despite our knowledge about pathogenesis, clinical characteristics and treatment, chronic heart failure (CHF) remains widespread disease with poor prognosis. However, there is not a common opinion whether statins are reasonable in patients with CHF. The data about efficiency and safety of statins are contradictory and demand evidences due to regular exclusion of patients with CHF from the majority of clinical trials of statins. The reduction of the level of low-density lipoproteins is not the unique mechanism of favourable effect of statins in patients with CHF, therefore, their pleiotropic effects are considered very important.