Simvastatin displays an antioxidative effect by inhibiting an increase in the serum 8-isoprostane level in patients with acute ischemic stroke: brief report.

OBJECTIVES

Oxidative stress plays an important role in ischemic stroke pathophysiology. Some drugs are known to have a substantial influence on oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the antioxidant effect of simvastatin through its influence on patients' serum 8-isoprostane levels.

METHODS

We measured serum 8-isoprostane levels in 67 patients with acute ischemic stroke treated and not treated with simvastatin within 5 days after stroke onset, in comparison with 20 normal controls.

RESULTS

Stroke patients from both groups had significantly higher initial serum 8-isoprostane levels than the controls. The median value of serum 8-isoprostane level was significantly lower in the simvastatin-treated group after 5 days of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirm the contribution of oxidative stress to brain ischemia and suggest antioxidative properties of statins in the acute phase of ischemic stroke patients.