title: Effect of Statins on Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of statins for treating aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains uncertain. In this study, the relevance of different end points was evaluated in order to clarify the action and efficacy of statins.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature retrieval was carried out to obtain randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from before March 2013 on the use of statins for aSAH. Data extraction and quality evaluation of the studies were performed by 2 investigators. A meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) software version 5.2.3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven randomized controlled trials comprising 347 patients that met the inclusion criteria were included in this meta-analysis. Results showed that, in aSAH, statins did not reduce vasospasm on transcranial Doppler (RR=0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.21; p=0.29) or improve outcomes (RR=0.92; 95% CI, 0.71-1.20; p=0.54). However, statins were able to decrease delayed ischemic neurological deficits (RR=0.56; 95% CI, 0.41-0.75; p=0.0001) and mortality (RR=0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.91; p=0.02) compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute statin treatment might not be a good choice for cerebral vasospasm after aSAH. Further large-scale, well-designed RCTs on this topic are still needed.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Bin-Fei
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-Ning
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xu-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Shi-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors