Statins suppress the development of aneurysms: fact or fiction?

To the Editor: A recent study on rats demonstrated that statins may suppress the development of cerebral aneurysms.1 Similar results were reported in 2 independent experimental studies investigating the effects of statin therapy on abdominal aortic aneurysms.2,3 Compared with placebo, treatment with simvastatin reduced both the overall extent of aortic dilatation, as well as the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm development.2,3 So far, the beneficial effects of statins on abdominal aortic aneurysm progression in humans have only been supported in 2 observational studies including 1304 and 1505 patients, respectively; regarding cerebral aneurysms, there is no similar report up-to-date. Verification of the positive results from animal studies in randomized controlled trials on humans holds implications for the medical management of both abdominal aortic6 and cerebral1 aneurysms.