ABSTRACT
Over the past 25 years, enormous resources have been put into the
study of human lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Similarly, great
efforts have been made to develop and test drugs that alter the lipid
profile. The reason for these endeavours is simple. We now know that
a raised blood cholesterol concentration causes atherosclerosis. This
disease process in turn causes coronary, cerebral and peripheral
vascular disease and, by lowering the blood cholesterol level, we can
prevent a significant proportion of these diseases. This book focuses
specifically on the statins, a group of drugs that indisputably have had
the most important impact in this field.
