title: New insights into the pleiotropic effects of statins for stroke prevention.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100 Brescia, Italia. ale_pezzini@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezzini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Zotto
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Volonghi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giossi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padovani
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors