Statins and cerebrovascular disease: plaque attack to prevent brain attack.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the USA and in the developed world. The beneficial role of cholesterol reduction in decreasing stroke has been uncertain. However, recent data indicate that statin treatment in patients with a history of myocardial infarction not only reduces the risk of a second myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, revascularization procedures and death, but also significantly reduces the risk of stroke. However, the mechanism(s) by which statins reduce stroke remain uncertain. Thus, the therapeutic armamentarium for the reduction of stroke in secondary prevention now includes cholesterol reduction with statins.
Mohler
E R
ER
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
Delanty
N
N
Rader
D J
DJ
Raps
E C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008148:Lovastatin; D017035:Pravastatin