Who Said Statins Work for Everything?

A disappointing result for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage

Delayed ischemic deficits are an important cause of morbidity and mortality for patients who survive a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Current options to limit the incidence of delayed deficits include calcium channel blockers and hypervolemic therapy. Phase II study outcomes suggested that statins may be useful in reducing the incidence of delayed ischemic deficits. Potential mechanisms include the anti-inflammatory properties of statins and upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

In this phase III trial, researchers enrolled 803 patients who could be treated within 96 hours after SAH onset. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 40 mg per day of simvastatin or placebo, for 21 days. The primary endpoint was neurologic o…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Who Said Statins Work for Everything?

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Reviewing Author