Abstract
The results of numerous long-term, randomized trials show that statins significantly decrease the risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular death as well as total mortality. The benefits of statins on cardiovascular disease in patients who are not experiencing acute coronary syndromes generally become apparent only after about 2 years. In contrast, atorvastatin conferred an early clinical benefit in the lipid-lowering arm of the long-term Anglo Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial as well as early benefit on progression of atherosclerosis in the Reversal of Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering trial. An unexpected finding at baseline in the prospective Interaction of Atorvastatin and Clopidogrel Study was that patients on atorvastatin had significantly decreased platelet activity compared with either patients on other statins or those taking no statins. Atorvastatin has protective effects against membrane lipid peroxidation at pharmacologic concentrations. These and other considerations contribute to the hypothesis that atorvastatin has pleiotropic effects that translate into early clinical benefits on cardiovascular disease.