Blood lipids and stroke: what more can we do besides reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol?

Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2011 Aug;13(4):306-13. doi: 10.1007/s11883-011-0186-z.

Abstract

Statin therapy has became the most important advance in stroke prevention since the introduction of aspirin and blood pressure-lowering therapies. Other lipid-modifying drugs have been less successful in reducing the incidence of stroke, but because of evidence for the use of triglyceride-lowering drugs and treatments that raise concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, further investigations are needed, particularly in patients with an atherogenic dyslipidemia profile (high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol levels). Furthermore, beyond reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and possibly improving other lipids fractions in patients who are at high risk of stroke, the present review shoes that lipid-modifying drugs might have neuroprotective effects that should also be further explored.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Fenofibrate / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / prevention & control
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Stroke / blood*
  • Stroke / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipids
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Fenofibrate