Statins in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Beneficial or Risky?

Some reassurance from a large observational study

The SPARCL trial (Stroke Prevention through Aggressive Reduction of Cholesterol Levels) was a landmark study in the field of stroke prevention (N Engl J Med 2006; 355:549). In SPARCL, compared with those assigned to placebo, patients with transient ischemic attack or stroke taking 80 mg of atorvastatin had a subsequent 16% reduction in stroke and a reduction in ischemic stroke, but they also had an increase in hemorrhagic stroke. This led some clinicians to be wary about using statins in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) or at high risk for ICH. Now, researchers have assessed the effects of in-hospital statin use on outcomes in 3481 patients with ICH in an integrated health system over a 10-year period.

Despite having higher rates…

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

Statins in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Beneficial or Risky?

Topics

Reviewing Author