title: Statin therapy reduces oxidized low density lipoprotein level, a risk factor for stroke outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins are reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects aside from cholesterol-lowering effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of statin therapy on oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) and the clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study enrolled 120 patients with AIS divided in the statin (n = 55) and non-statin (n = 65) groups. Eighty sex- and age- matched participants were recruited as risk controls. Ox-LDL was measured using a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay at different time points after AIS. The clinical outcomes were analyzed between the statin and non-statin groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma Ox-LDL was significantly higher in stroke patients than in the controls (P < 0.001). Plasma Ox-LDL level was significantly reduced in the statin group on day 7 and day 30 compared to the non-statin group (P < 0.01). The plasma Ox-LDL positively correlated with serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Among the potential risk factors, only National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score and Ox-LDL level on admission were independently associated with 3-month outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that statin therapy reduces plasma Ox-LDL level after AIS. Plasma Ox-LDL may be a more powerful predictor than serum LDL, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or white blood cell counts for stroke outcome. Therefore, assay of plasma Ox-LDL should be added as a predictor among the panel of conventional biomarkers in stroke outcome.
authors.forename: Nai-Wen
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Lian-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Ren
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Neng
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ya-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yu-Jih
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yi-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Hung-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ben-Chung
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wei-Che
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Chih-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yu-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein