Investigations of statins in heart failure: inflammatory biomarkers and hormones.

The primary role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) is to treat dyslipidemia. The clinical benefits with statin therapy have been demonstrated in the primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. More recently, it has been observed that pleiotropic effects of statins (which may or may not be associated with lipid lowering) have been described as treatment of various cardiovascular disease processes and in noncardiac disease processes. This article evaluates the potential mechanisms for these effects in the management of heart failure and postulates their clinical and beneficial use.