statin

statin
statin [stat′'n]
n.
any of a class of drugs, as lovastatin, that lower the levels of LDL and cholesterol in the blood, commonly used in treating heart disease

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stat·in (stătʹn) n.
Any of a class of lipid-lowering drugs that reduce serum cholesterol levels by inhibiting a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.
  [From the names of such lipid-lowering drugs as pravastatin.]

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drug
also called  HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor 

       drug that acts to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA (5-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A) reductase, which is required for cholesterol synthesis. Examples of statins include simvastatin, pravastatin, and lovastatin. Statins are generally quite safe, but side effects may include muscle pain and fatigue. A rare side effect called myopathy, characterized by muscle degeneration, has been associated with a mutation in a gene involved in mediating liver uptake of statins.

      Statins have shown promise as antihypertensive drugs because of their ability to lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The mechanism by which statins act to reduce blood pressure is unknown; however, scientists suspect that these drugs activate substances involved in vasodilation (relaxation of blood vessels (blood vessel)). In addition, statins appear to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques (deposits of fat in artery walls) and thus are often prescribed to reduce the chances of a thrombotic event in people with cardiovascular disease.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • statin — [stat′ n] n. any of a class of drugs, as lovastatin, that lower the levels of LDL and cholesterol in the blood, commonly used in treating heart disease …   English World dictionary

  • Statin — This article is about the group of cholesterol lowering drugs. For the amino acid, see Statine. Lovastatin, a compound isolated from Aspergillus terreus, was the first statin to be marketed. Statins (or HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) are a class… …   Wikipedia

  • Statin — Als Statin wird im allgemeinen medizinischen Sprachgebrauch ein Arzneistoff bezeichnet, das der pharmakologischen Substanzklasse der 3 Hydroxy 3 Methylglutaryl Coenzym A Reduktase (HMG CoA Reduktase )Inhibitoren angehört. Da HMG CoA ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Statin — Sta|tin [griech. statikós = stellend, zum Stehen bringend, hemmend; ↑ in (3)], das; s, e: 1) aus Pepstatin isolierte optisch aktive Hydroxyaminosäure, die eine spezif. Hemmwirkung auf bestimmte Proteasen ausübt; 2) Sammelbez. für bestimmte ↑… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • statin — UK [ˈstætɪn] / US noun [countable] Word forms statin : singular statin plural statins medical a drug that is used to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood …   English dictionary

  • statin — noun Etymology: from statin (as in lovastatin) Date: 1986 any of a group of drugs (as lovastatin and simvastatin) that inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and promote the production of LDL binding receptors in the liver resulting in a usually… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • -statin — sta|tin [↑ Statin] 1) Grundwort in von der WHO empfohlenen Freinamen von ↑ Lipidsenkern, die die Biogenese des Cholesterins blockieren, indem sie die enzymatische Mevalonsäure Synthese hemmen, z. B. Lova , Simva , Prava , Fluvastatin; 2)… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • statin — Any of a group of drugs that lower the amount of cholesterol and certain fats in the blood. Statins inhibit a key enzyme that helps make cholesterol. Statin drugs are being studied in the prevention and treatment of cancer …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • statin — noun a medicine that lowers blood cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase • Syn: ↑lipid lowering medicine, ↑lipid lowering medication, ↑statin drug • Hypernyms: ↑medicine, ↑medication, ↑medicament, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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