Abstract
Preeclampsia has been linked to high morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. However, no efficient pharmacological options for the prevention of this condition are currently available. Preeclampsia is thought to share several pathophysiologic mechanisms with cardiovascular disease, which has led to investigations for the potential role of statins (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) in its prevention and early management. Pravastatin seems to have a safer pharmacokinetic profile compared to other statins, however, the existing preclinical evidence for its effectiveness in preeclampsia treatment has been mostly restricted to animal models. This review aims to summarize the current data and delineate the potential future role of statins in the prevention and management of preeclampsia.
Highlights
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder with multi-organ involvement, mainly including the emergence of high blood pressure (BP) in the second trimester of pregnancy
Family history of preeclampsia, late age of maternity (>40 years), multiple gestation, obesity, diabetes mellitus and history of thrombophilia have been identified as predisposing risk factors (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy, 2013)
The preclinical evidence supporting the use of pravastatin in the treatment of preeclampsia is currently only limited to animal models and it has focused on simulation of endothelial pathophysiologic changes in preeclamptic mice
Summary
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder with multi-organ involvement, mainly including the emergence of high blood pressure (BP) in the second trimester of pregnancy. Affecting about 1 in 12 pregnant women in the USA, preeclampsia is the most common hypertensive condition complicating pregnancy, as well as one of the major causes of maternal and fetal complications and death (Frishman et al, 2006; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy, 2013; Lo et al, 2013; Say et al, 2014). Many therapeutic interventions have been proposed, mortality and morbidity rates still remain considerable. The aim of this review is to assess the possible role of statins in the therapeutic management of preeclampsia through exploration of the current preclinical and clinical data
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