Statins in stroke prevention: what an internist should know.
Historically, the etiological link between hypercholesterolemia and stroke has been less clear than for coronary heart disease. The lack of association between cholesterol levels and stroke in most epidemiological and observational studies has brought about this controversy. Many recent, long-term clinical studies have confirmed that statin therapy results in a reduced risk of strokes, even in so-called "normocholesterolemic" patients. The magnitude of the effect is great. A large-scale analysis of more than 90,000 individuals showed that every 10% reduction in the concentration of LDL-cholesterol reduces the risk of stroke by 15.6%. The positive effect of statins on stroke depends mainly on LDL cholesterol reduction, but other non-lipid mechanisms, so-called "pleiotropic" effects, have been shown to play a role. This review seeks to summarize the role of statins in stroke prevention. Despite the fact that our understanding of the benefits of statins in stroke prevention is still evolving, we find marked room for improvement in stroke risk factor management. Internists must face this challenge and integrate this new knowledge into their daily clinical practice.
Castilla Guerra
Luis
L
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Merced, Osuna, Seville, Spain. castillafernandez@hotmail.com
del Carmen Fernández Moreno
María
M
López Chozas
José Manuel
JM
Jiménez Hernández
María Dolores
MD
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors