Why the overstated beneficial effects of statins do not resolve the cholesterol controversy.

Sir, Atherosclerosis is believed to be a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the intima of arteries.1 Controversy continues to surround its etiology and pathogenesis, particularly with respect to cholesterol and lipids.2 However, in his review,3 Thompson asserted that the cholesterol controversy should be considered overtaken by the discovery and development of statin drugs. We suggest that hypercholesterolemia does not represent a ‘causa sine qua non’ for the development of atherosclerosis and that the beneficial effects of statins are …