New Insights into the Pleiotropic Effects of Statins for Stroke Prevention

Alessandro      Pezzini; Elisabetta      Del Zotto; Irene      Volonghi; Alessia      Giossi; Paolo      Costa; Alessandro      Padovani

Abstract

There is compelling evidence that treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors - “statins” - the most important class of lipid lowering agents, reduces ischemic stroke incidence independent on their effect on serum cholesterol levels. In this review, the non-lipid-mediated - “pleiotropic” - effects of statins as well as their potential implication in developing new treatment strategies for stroke prevention will be discussed.

Keywords: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, stroke, pleiotropic effects

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