title: Update on the evidence of statin treatment to reduce plaque vulnerability.
abstract: Ischemic stroke represents one of the major causes of mortality and disability in the adult population in both developed and developing nations. Considering these epidemiological issues, the improvement of preventive therapeutic strategies has been recently targeted as a pivotal research field for scientific community. On the basis of the results from several large clinical studies and met analyses, some Task forces of researchers from recognized Scientific Societies have recently produced some consensus Guide lines, recommending the use of statins as a key pharmacologic approach in stroke prevention. In the present narrative review, we will update evidence on safety and efficacy of statins to prevent ischemic cerebral stroke.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, avenue de la Roseraie 64, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. fabrizio.montecucco@unige.ch
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montecucco
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pende
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors