Statins and cerebral hemodynamics.

Abstract

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are associated with improved stroke outcome. This observation has been attributed in part to the palliative effect of statins on cerebral hemodynamics and cerebral autoregulation (CA), which are mediated mainly through the upregulation of endothelium nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Several animal studies indicate that statin pretreatment enhances cerebral blood flow after ischemic stroke, although this finding is not further supported in clinical settings. Cerebral vasomotor reactivity, however, is significantly improved after long-term statin administration in most patients with severe small vessel disease, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, or impaired baseline CA.

• Authors: Sotirios Giannopoulos, Aristeidis H Katsanos, Georgios Tsivgoulis, Randolph S Marshall
• Journal: Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism (J Cereb Blood Flow Metab) Vol. 32 Issue 11 Pg. 1973-6 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1559-7016 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22929438 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III

Topics

• Animals
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Cerebrovascular Circulation (drug effects)
• Cerebrovascular Disorders (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Hemodynamics (drug effects)
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Muscle Contraction (drug effects)
• Muscle, Smooth, Vascular (drug effects)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III (metabolism)
• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (drug therapy, physiopathology)