[Statins in chronic heart failure--new indication?].

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is connected with very high risk of death. Discovery of neurohormonal mechanisms which contribute to pathogenesis of CHF changed therapeutic management of CHF. It was indicated that statins may exert beneficial effects in patients with CHF through preventing acute coronary syndromes, reducing myocardial hypertrophy, decreasing activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic system, inhibitory effects on inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases, improving endothelial function. Usefulness of statins in CHF is however controversial. There is some evidence that lower serum cholesterol concentrations relate to impaired survival in patients with CHF. Before data from large scale trials (CORONA, GISSI-HF, UNIVERSE) will be published, statin therapy in CHF must be recommended carefully.