New from NCP
07 January 2008
New recommendations for statin use in patients with stroke
The vast majority of patients with stroke should be started on statin therapy, preferably before discharge from hospital, recommend Nerses Sanossian and Bruce Ovbiagele in a review article published in Nature Clinical Practice Neurology this month.
The role of statins in primary stroke prevention is well established, but, until recently, their benefits with regard to secondary prevention of vascular events in patients who had already experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack were less certain. However, the recent Stroke Prevention through Aggressive Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) trial showed that an intensive statin regimen can also protect against secondary stroke and other major vascular events. Sanossian and Ovbiagele discuss the findings of this landmark study and outline current guidelines for the use of statins in patients with stroke.
Once started, statin therapy in patients with stroke needs to be continued without interruption, emphasizes James Liao in a Practice Point article also in this issue. The author comments on a recent study that found an almost three-fold increase in mortality among patients with stroke who discontinued their treatment with statins.
The two articles assert that statin therapy now has a firmly established place in the vascular risk reduction strategy for the vast majority of people who have had a stroke.
Article details:
Title: Does surgery have a role in the management of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis? Yes, but...
Author: Vincent Thijs
Title: Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis—it's time to stop operating
Author: Anne Abbot
The Nature Clinical Practice journals
Nature Clinical Practice journals deliver timely, authoritative interpretations of key research developments, translating the latest findings into clinical practice. Each of the eight titles in the series is published monthly. Content includes editorial and opinion pieces, highlights from the current literature, commentaries on the application of recent research to practical patient care, thorough reviews, and in-depth case studies. The journals' Editors-in-Chief and international advisory boards ensure comprehensive coverage throughout the year, with discussion of topical issues included as soon as possible after publication of the original research.
The first four Nature Clinical Practice journals were launched in November 2004 and a further four were launched in November 2005. For a full list of journal titles and for more information, visit www.nature.com/clinicalpractice
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Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a division of Macmillan Publishers Ltd, dedicated to serving the academic, professional scientific and medical communities. NPG's flagship title, Nature, was first published in 1869. Other publications include Nature research journals, Nature Reviews, Nature Clinical Practice, a range of prestigious academic journals, including society-owned publications. NPG also provides news content through Nature News and scientific career information through Naturejobs.
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