title: Simvastatin displays an antioxidative effect by inhibiting an increase in the serum 8-isoprostane level in patients with acute ischemic stroke: brief report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxidative stress plays an important role in ischemic stroke pathophysiology. Some drugs are known to have a substantial influence on oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the antioxidant effect of simvastatin through its influence on patients' serum 8-isoprostane levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum 8-isoprostane levels in 67 patients with acute ischemic stroke treated and not treated with simvastatin within 5 days after stroke onset, in comparison with 20 normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stroke patients from both groups had significantly higher initial serum 8-isoprostane levels than the controls. The median value of serum 8-isoprostane level was significantly lower in the simvastatin-treated group after 5 days of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm the contribution of oxidative stress to brain ischemia and suggest antioxidative properties of statins in the acute phase of ischemic stroke patients.
authors: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. aszerej@poczta.onet.pl
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Szczepańska-Szerej
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Kurzepa
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Wojczal
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Stelmasiak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D019821:Simvastatin; D015237:Dinoprost