Statins and Portal Hypertension: A New Pharmacological Challenge

Title:Statins and Portal Hypertension: A New Pharmacological Challenge

Volume: 10 Issue: 6

Author(s): Gonzalo Ramirez, Jimmy Briceno and Armando Rojas

Affiliation:

Keywords: Liver cirrhosis, statins, portal hypertension, hepatic stellate cell, intrahepatic vascular resistance, vascular endothelium

Abstract: Portal hypertension is a hemodynamic abnormality that involves a high risk of disability as well as a reduced life expectancy in patients with cirrhosis. Progress in the knowledge of pathophysiology of portal hypertension has opened a new perspective for different pharmacological approaches. In this context, the pleiotropic actions of statins on endothelial cell function have emerged as new options to reduce portal pressure levels by targeting multiple molecular pathways involved in hepatic vascular homeostasis. We highlight how statins may target some molecular pathways involved in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension and how these drugs may correct impaired hepatic vascular tone.

Cite this article as:

Ramirez Gonzalo, Briceno Jimmy and Rojas Armando, Statins and Portal Hypertension: A New Pharmacological Challenge, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2012; 10 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016112803520918