Clinical investigations of statins in heart failure: ventricular function and anti-remodeling

This article focuses on the importance of ventricular function as a surrogate end point for clinical outcomes and examines the evidence base for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) as anti-remodeling agents. Overall, the published evidence strongly suggests that statins possess beneficial anti-remodeling effects in the chronic heart failure setting and that these may be additional to those observed with standard therapy, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers. The data are not universally consistent, however, and the doses of agents studied may be important in this regard. Specifically, greater benefits appear to be observed with low doses of statins.