Pravastatin for preeclampsia: From animal to human.

Abstract

Preeclampsia is characterized by the emergence of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and it threatens both maternal and fetal lives if it proceeds unabated. Despite numerous studies, thus far the only fundamental therapy for preeclampsia is termination of pregnancy, leading to preterm birth. Furthermore, preeclamptic women are reported to be at risk for cardiovascular diseases for 10 years after delivery. Therefore, preventative and therapeutic strategies for preeclampsia are required. Recently, statins have been reported to improve the regeneration of vascular endothelium, and pravastatin has attracted attention as a potential preventative or therapeutic candidate for preeclampsia. Pravastatin has been demonstrated to have preventative effects in preeclampsia model mice, and a large volume of human data from pregnant women taking statins supports the safety of these drugs. Moreover, small clinical trials have reported that pravastatin has strong preventative or therapeutic effects on preeclampsia and it has the potential to improve the prognosis of pregnant women, fetuses and neonates affected by this condition.

• Authors: Keiichi Kumasawa, Takayuki Iriyama, Takeshi Nagamatsu, Yutaka Osuga, Tomoyuki Fujii
• Journal: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research (J Obstet Gynaecol Res) Vol. 46 Issue 8 Pg. 1255-1262 (Aug 2020) ISSN: 1447-0756 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 32485787 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Chemical References

• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Pravastatin

Topics

• Animals
• Female
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Infant, Newborn
• Mice
• Pravastatin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Pre-Eclampsia (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Pregnancy
• Premature Birth
• Proteinuria