Statins – 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors are among the most prescribed drugs to lower concentration of cholesterol. With its more than 10 years usage we could evaluate its effect on morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies have proved beneficial properties of statins in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Metaanalysis of those studies found improvement of clinical status of patients in time without any change of cholesterol or in patients in normal average concentration of cholesterol. There are increasing number of studies which describe the beneficial properties of statins in decreasing of proteinuria and slowing of the decrease of glomerular filtration in patients with chronic renal disease. Those pleiotropic effects – effects of statins independent on cholesterol concentration are the main points in this review. The vasculoprotective, antiinflammatory and imunomodulatory effects are discussed that give us the opportunity to elucidate wider spectrum of mechanism of effects of statins in the therapy of renal diseases.

        Key words: statins, pleiotropic effects, NO, Rho kinase, Akt kinase.