title: Statin treatment reduces the risk of poststroke seizures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the potential efficacy of statin treatment in reducing the risk of poststroke seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cohort study, patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke and no history of epilepsy before stroke were enrolled. After a mean follow-up period of 2.5 years, a follow-up assessment was performed to identify poststroke epilepsy. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between statin use and poststroke early-onset seizures or poststroke epilepsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,832 enrolled patients, 63 (3.4%) patients had poststroke early-onset seizures and 91 (5.0%) patients had poststroke epilepsy. Statin use was associated with a lower risk of poststroke early-onset seizures (odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.60, p < 0.001), and this reduced risk was seen mainly in patients who used a statin only in the acute phase (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.20-0.62, p < 0.001). No significant association was found between statin use and poststroke epilepsy (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.52-1.26, p = 0.349). In 63 patients who presented with early-onset seizures, statin use was associated with reduced risk of poststroke epilepsy (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.88, p = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statin use, especially in the acute phase, may reduce the risk of poststroke early-onset seizures. In addition, statin treatment may prevent the progression of initial poststroke seizure-induced neurodegeneration into chronic epilepsy. Because of the observational nature of the study, more studies are needed to confirm the results.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study provides Class III evidence that in patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke, the early use of statins reduces the risk of early poststroke seizures.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jinmei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Muke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Fengqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Shihong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. zhoudong66@yahoo.de heli2003new@126.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. zhoudong66@yahoo.de heli2003new@126.com.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin