Risk and benefit of statins in stroke secondary prevention

Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2013 Nov;11(6):812-6. doi: 10.2174/157016111106140128113121.

Abstract

Statin is now recommended in secondary prevention after stroke or transient ischemic attacks to reduce the risk of a new stroke or major cardiovascular events. However, some issues about the extent of the benefit in some stroke patients and the risk of cerebral hemorrhage remain debated. This review shows that statins are significantly effective in decreasing the risk of further strokes despite an increase in the risk of brain hemorrhage. A significant benefit was observed in men and women, in aged patients and possibly to a greater extent in patients with carotid artery stenosis. Intensive statin therapy lowering the LDL-cholesterol beyond the cut-off value of 1.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dl) seems to be more effective than less intensive treatment and without an increased risk of side effects. Overall, statins are well tolerated. Further prospective studies should clarify whether the effect is of the same magnitude in small vessel disease and how to select the patients to reduce the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / blood
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / methods
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / trends
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Risk Factors
  • Secondary Prevention / methods
  • Secondary Prevention / trends*
  • Stroke / blood
  • Stroke / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors