Pleiotropic effects of statins

Pleiotropic effects of statins

Virtually all cells possess the mevalonate pathway that is affected by statin therapy. Hence it is not surprising that the influence of statins may not be limited to the cardiovascular system. The various pleiotropic effects of statins proposed are vasodilation, antithrombotic effects, antioxidant effects, antiproliferative effects, anti-inflammatory effects and atherosclerotic plaque stabilization.

But all the questions regarding the pleiotropic effects of statins are yet to be fully answered. They are the following:
What is the clinical and practical relevance beyond those due to lipid lowering?
Are these effects dose dependent?
Which part of the molecular structure they can be attributed to?
What is the extent of contribution to clinical outcomes independent of reduction in the known CAD risk factors?