There is evidence that statin therapy in patients with a history of ischaemic stroke or TIA significantly reduces subsequent major coronary events but only marginally reduces the risk of stroke recurrence .
There is no clear evidence of beneficial effect from statins in those with previous haemorrhagic stroke and it is unclear whether statins should be started immediately post stroke or later .
BACKGROUND Studies have shown that interventions which reduce total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels also reduce coronary heart disease ( CHD ) and stroke events in those with a history of CHD .
However , it is uncertain whether treatment to alter cholesterol levels can prevent recurrence of either stroke or subsequent cardiovascular events and whether differences in outcomes exist between classes of lipid-lowering therapy .
This is an up date of a Cochrane review first published in 2002 .
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of altering serum lipids pharmacologically for preventing subsequent cardiovascular disease and stroke recurrence in patients with a history of stroke .
Design and Baseline Characteristics of the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) Study
Evidence suggests that statin therapy reduces the risk of stroke in patients with coronary heart disease ( CHD ) , but its benefit for patients with cerebrovascular disease and no history of CHD remains uncertain . The Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels ( SPARCL ) Study is a prospect i ve , multi-centre , double-blind , r and omised , placebo-controlled trial design ed to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin 80 mg/day in patients who previously experienced a stroke or transient ischaemic attack , but who have no known CHD . A total of 4,732 patients have been enrolled , and the data collection phase of the study is expected to be completed by October 2004 . SPARCL is the first study primarily design ed to prospect ively evaluate the effect of statin treatment  in secondary stroke prevention
There is evidence that statin therapy in patients with a history of ischaemic stroke or TIA significantly reduces subsequent major coronary events but only marginally reduces the risk of stroke recurrence .
There is no clear evidence of beneficial effect from statins in those with previous haemorrhagic stroke and it is unclear whether statins should be started immediately post stroke or later .
BACKGROUND Studies have shown that interventions which reduce total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels also reduce coronary heart disease ( CHD ) and stroke events in those with a history of CHD .
However , it is uncertain whether treatment to alter cholesterol levels can prevent recurrence of either stroke or subsequent cardiovascular events and whether differences in outcomes exist between classes of lipid-lowering therapy .
This is an up date of a Cochrane review first published in 2002 .
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of altering serum lipids pharmacologically for preventing subsequent cardiovascular disease and stroke recurrence in patients with a history of stroke .