JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND ANALYTICAL MEDICINE, cilt.5, ss.340-345, 2014 (ESCI)
The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are potent inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and they are widely used to lower serum cholesterol levels in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, statins exert a number of beneficial effects on vascular function beyond their cholesterol lowering effects. These so-called pleiotropic effects include improvement of endothelial function, antioxidant properties, stabilization of plaques inhibition of inflammatory responses and immunomodulatory actions. Furthermore, statins have beneficial effects on the bone and some systemic diseases. In recent years, the safety of statins has become controversial. Statins are not completely free of side effects but few significant side effects were observed in patients treated with statins. Taking all the indications and side effects of statins into consideration, it is our belief that benefits of medication outweigh the side effects and result in favor of statin therapy.