Effects of Atorvastatin on Prognosis of Transient Ischemic Attack

Objective To study the effects of statins on prognosis of transient ischemic attack. Methods 459 patients had transient ischemic attack(TIA) within one to six months,with low-density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol levels of 2.51-4.89 mmol·L-1,and without known coronary heart disease were enrolled and treated with 60 mg of atorvastatin(220 cases) per day or placebo(239 cases)in a double-blind way.All the patients were followed-up for 1 a.The primary end point was a first-episode nonfatal or fatal stroke. Results The mean LDL cholesterol level of atorvastatin group and control group after a year was 2.28 mmol·L-1 and 3.34 mmol·L-1,respectively(P0.05).36 patients(16.4%) receiving atorvastatin and 59 patients(24.7%) receiving placebo had a fatal or nonfatal stroke(P0.05).30 cases in the atorvastatin group had cerebral infarction and 6 cases developed hemorrhagic strokes,whereas 53 cases in the placebo group had cerebral infarction and 6 cases in which developed hemorrhagic strokes.The incidence of cerebral infarction in atorvastatin group decreased significantly in comparison with that of the placebo group(P0.05),whereas the incidences of hemorrhagic stroke did not significant deviate in two groups(P0.05).The risk of major cardiovascular events in the atorvastatin group was decreased obviously(P0.01).The overall mortality rates were similar,with 7 deaths in the atorvastatin group and 5 deaths in the placebo group. Conclusion Atorvastatin at a dose of 60 mg·d-1 reduced the overall incidence of strokes and cardiovascular events in patients with TIA and without known coronary heart disease.