It is well established that 3-hydroxy-3-methyglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase
inhibitors (“statins”) reduce cholesterol levels and prevent coronary heart disease (CHD).
Although a causal relation between elevated cholesterol levels and stroke has not been well
defined, a number of large secondary prevention studies and meta-analyses have shown
that statin therapy reduces stroke in patients with CHD and hypercholesterolemia. In
addition to the vascular effects of statins (stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, decreased …