Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Holds Hope For Young Stroke Patients
Doctors generally prescribe statin drugs for their stroke patients if the root of the stroke is found in high cholesterol levels of the patient. However, a study conducted by researchers at the Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland now points that the drug may prove beneficial even for young stroke patients who may not have high cholesterol levels so that they do not experience a stroke recurrence.
(Source: Journal- Neurology, American Academy of Neurology; Report Title: Statins After Ischemic Stroke Of Undetermined Etiology In Young Adults; URL: Year: August 2, 2011)
http://www.neurology.org/content/77/5/426.abstract
Statins are a class of drugs that are known to reduce levels of cholesterol produced in the liver, by inhibiting a particular enzyme (the HMG-CoA reductase) responsible for cholesterol production.
The study, which was supported by the Finnish Medical Foundation, the Finnish Brain Foundation and the Emil Aaltonen Foundation examined over 200 persons who were in the 15 – 49 years age bracket and who had already experienced a stroke. The study then followed their case for nine years to test their hypothesis with the statin drugs.
The statistics are said to have been encouraging as 36 persons who had been taking statins regularly after their first stroke as a part of their treatment prescription never experienced a another episode of stroke; 11 percent of another 36 persons who had taken statin at some point after their first stroke experienced a second stroke or a vascular problem; and 20 percent of the remaining 143 people from the target population being studied who had never been given the statins despite their stroke, experienced a second stroke or vascular problem. The study had made adjustments for age, medication and high blood pressure factors.
(Source: Neurology, 2011; 77 (5); Report Title: Statins After Ischemic Stroke Of Undetermined Etiology In Young Adults; Author(s): J. Putaala, E. Haapaniemi, M. Kaste, T. Tatlisumak; 426 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318227b1c2)
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