Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Welch, K.M.A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Welch, K.M.A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?


Statins for the prevention of cerebrovascular disease: the rationale for robust intervention

K.M.A. Welch*

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 GreenBay Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064 USA

* Correspondence: K.M. Welch, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA. Tel.: +1-847-578-3238; fax: +1-847-578-3404
welch{at}finchcms.edu

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and places a huge burden on the healthcare system. The risk factors for cerebrovascular disease are, however, well established and largely modifiable. After blood pressure control, the reduction of serum cholesterol levels has the promise to provide the greatest benefit in reducing the risk of stroke. In particular, data from landmark trials have shown that lipid-lowering therapy with statins significantly reduces the risk of stroke in patients with existing coronary heart disease but no evidence of prior cerebrovascular disease. More recently, data have emerged suggesting that statin therapy is also beneficial in the secondary prevention of stroke, and ongoing trials, such as the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels study, will clarify this further. Statins are likely to reduce the risk of stroke by the stabilization and/or regression of plaque, but they also exhibit pleiotropic effects (for example, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties), which further justify their use in the primary and secondary prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.

Key Words: Cerebrovascular disease • Pleiotropic effects • Primary prevention • Secondary prevention • Statins • Stroke


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.