New insights into the pleiotropic effects of statins for stroke prevention.
There is compelling evidence that treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors - "statins" - the most important class of lipid lowering agents, reduces ischemic stroke incidence independent on their effect on serum cholesterol levels. In this review, the non-lipid-mediated - "pleiotropic" - effects of statins as well as their potential implication in developing new treatment strategies for stroke prevention will be discussed.
Pezzini
Alessandro
A
Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100 Brescia, Italia. ale_pezzini@hotmail.com
Del Zotto
Elisabetta
E
Volonghi
Irene
I
Giossi
Alessia
A
Costa
Paolo
P
Padovani
Alessandro
A
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors