title: Biological basis for statin therapy in stroke prevention.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Cardiology Center, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. rrosenso@rush.edu
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rosenson
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin