Statins - a new option for the antiviral treatment? Preliminary study.

Statins, which are typically used as anti-cholesterol medication, can inhibit the replication of the hepatitis C virus. The anti-HCV activity is not related with cytotoxicity; they inhibit the replication of HCV RNA via inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase which leads to reduction of intracellular mevalonate and consequently to reduction of geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate. HCV RNA replication needs some geranyl-geranylated proteins which need the geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate of the host cell. The objective of this prospective study was to sustain the antiviral effect of statins.