Biological basis for statin therapy in stroke prevention.
Hypercholesterolemia has not been considered an important risk factor for stroke; however, statin therapy reduces stroke in coronary heart disease patients. Statins may provide cerebrovascular protection through various mechanisms that include a reduction in the incidence of embolic stroke from cardiac, aortic and carotid sites, stabilization of vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and improvement in cerebral blood flow.
Rosenson
R S
RS
Preventive Cardiology Center, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. rrosenso@rush.edu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin