Key result
While retrospective studies suggested statins slow valvular heart disease progression, large prospective randomized trials failed to demonstrate a significant benefit, leaving their role uncertain.
Why the study?
Does statin therapy prevent progression in patients with valvular heart disease?
Does statin therapy prevent progression in patients with valvular heart disease?
The role of statin therapy in preventing the progression of valvular heart disease remains debated, warranting further large randomized trials.
Statin therapy should not yet alter valvular heart disease management; leaves open the need for further targeted trials.
Valvular heart disease (VHD) represents a significant burden within the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, there has been a great interest in finding medical treatments able to slow the progression ofVHD. The negative results of several large randomized trials failing to demonstrate a benefit of such therapies, has led to a decrease of interest in this field. However, finding a medical treatment capable of preventing VHD progression is still a hot topic, due to the important clinical implications. We believe that the jury is still out on the debate about the role of statin therapy in VHD, considering also recently published studies providing new information with future implications for the treatment of this disease process. This article gives an overview of the published evidence about the role of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors on delaying progressive valve dysfunction. A preventive therapy, which could influence not only the haemodynamic progression of valve disease, but also the cardiovascular outcome, is warranted. Large, prospective, randomized trials are needed to properly evaluate the role of statins in the early stages of valvular heart disease.
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Antonini‐Canterin et al. (2013) conducted a review in Valvular heart disease (calcific aortic stenosis, bioprosthetic valve degeneration, rheumatic valve disease). Statins (hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors) vs. Placebo or no statin treatment was evaluated on Progression of valvular heart disease (hemodynamic progression, valve area decrease, or peak gradient increase). While retrospective studies suggested statins slow valvular heart disease progression, large prospective randomized trials failed to demonstrate a significant benefit, leaving their role uncertain.
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