Statin Drugs May Cut Stroke Risk

A study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that statin drugs can help prevent a second thrombolytic stroke. These drugs are used to treat high cholesterol. The study was funded by Pfizer, which makes Lipitor, a commonly prescribed statin. Lipitor was the drug used in the study but experts said it is highly possible that other statin drugs would have the same effect.

Thrombolytic stroke is caused by a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain that cuts off blood flow and oxygen to a portion of the brain. Statin were found to increase the risk of the rarer hemorrhagic type stoke.