Last
Updated: Jan 31st, 2008 - 10:32:35 | Archive News | |
| Digest articles | |
| Events calendar | |
| Announcements | |
 |
| Search |
|
Cholesterol drugs may raise brain hemorrhage risk |
Email this article Printer friendly page |
However, the small number of brain bleed (haemorrhagic) strokes increased slightly in the statin-treated groups. This effect was seen in patients that had had a previous brain bleed stroke, and those with higher risk of stroke anyway - men, the elderly and those with high blood pressures during the study. The risk of stroke was not related to the degree of cholesterol reduction by the statin.
Therefore in patients with the common ischemic (brain attack) stroke, statin
treatment will reduce the incidence of further strokes and heart attacks. In the rarer group with brain bleeds, treatment is better directed towards tighter blood pressure control.
Further information on the SPARCL study is available at: Reuters UK
© Copyright H·E·A·R·T UK Ltd
Top of Page