Statins and ischemic stroke.
The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins are potent inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis. Several large clinical trials have demonstrated that these agents reduce serum cholesterol levels and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, overlap and meta-analyses of these clinical trials suggest that the beneficial effects of statins may extend beyond their effects on serum cholesterol levels. Because statins also inhibit the synthesis of isoprenoid intermediates in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, they may have pleiotropic effects on the vascular wall. In particular, the ability of statins to decrease the incidence of ischemic stroke highlights some of their non-cholesterol effects since serum cholesterol levels are poorly correlated with the risk for ischemic stroke.
Liao
James K
JK
Vascular Medicine Research, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. jliao@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase