Introduction: Statins have several pleiotropic effects that have the potential to be beneficial during pregnancy. This study evaluates the available evidence for the teratogenicity of statins, and their utility in treating preeclampsia and dyslipidemia in pregnancy, as good alternatives in these domains are currently lacking.
Areas covered: The possible teratogenicity of statins is a primary focus of this paper. We also evaluated for some possible non-teratogenic effects, such as changes in birth weight and rates of spontaneous abortion, among mothers exposed to statins during pregnancy. Regarding potential uses, this study mainly discusses statin utility in preventing and treating preeclampsia and treating dyslipidemia in pregnancy. Within the latter, we explore the relationship between dyslipidemia and preeclampsia, the potential consequences of delaying statin therapy where indicated, and the impact of supra-physiological levels of cholesterol in utero on offspring. The literature search was conducted using Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus.
Expert opinion: Based on current evidence, statins are likely not teratogenic. Limited, but promising evidence exists for their efficacy in treating and preventing preeclampsia. In utero exposure to high cholesterol may negatively impact offspring, and should be thoroughly investigated.
Keywords: Statins; dyslipidemia; preeclampsia; pregnancy; teratogenesis.