[Statins and asthma].

Statins are drugs widely used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. They decrease cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl reductase of coenzyme A (HMG-CoA). It was shown that statins are characterized by a wider spectrum of activity, which was attributed as an extralipid (pleiotropic) one. Although benefits of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been proven in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, there are attempts to use them in other fields of medicine, such as neurology and rheumatology. At present, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are being particularly examined. Based on the observation mentioned above, the use of statins in allergology has also been attempted. The paper presents selected aspects of statins’ effects on immunological reactions and the inflammatory process, pointing to the possibility of statin use in the treatment of asthma.