title: [Statins in the secondary prevention of stroke: New evidence from the SPARCL Study].
abstract: Until recently there was little evidence that statin therapy reduced the risk of stroke recurrence. The SPARCL trial, published in 2006, was the first trial to show the benefits of statin therapy in preventing recurrent stroke. The SPARCL trial showed that treatment with atorvastatin 80mg/day reduced recurrent stroke in patients with a recent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Several post hoc analyses of different subgroups followed the SPARCL trial. They have not revealed any significant differences when patients were grouped by age, sex or type of stroke. The SPARCL trial has also helped to identify patients who may have a greater benefit from statins: Patients with carotid stenosis, with more intense lipid lowering, and those who achieve optimal levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and blood pressure. The trial has also helped to identify individuals at high risk of new vascular events. Clearly there is a before and after in stroke prevention since the SPARCL trial was published.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de la Merced, Osuna, Sevilla, España. Electronic address: castillafernandez@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castilla-Guerra
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de Valme, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: María Del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Fernández-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: López-Chozas
mesh_terms: D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000517:prevention & control; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Carotid stenosis; Cerebrovascular disease; Cholesterol; Colesterol; Enfermedad cerebrovascular; Estatinas; Estenosis carotídea; Estudio SPARCL; Prevención del ictus; SPARCL trial; Statins; Stroke prevention