[Statins in the secondary prevention of stroke: New evidence from the SPARCL Study].

Until recently there was little evidence that statin therapy reduced the risk of stroke recurrence. The SPARCL trial, published in 2006, was the first trial to show the benefits of statin therapy in preventing recurrent stroke. The SPARCL trial showed that treatment with atorvastatin 80mg/day reduced recurrent stroke in patients with a recent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Nocturnal hypotension in patients after ischemic stroke: does it really matter?

Background: We aimed to evaluate the presence of nocturnal hypotension (NHP) in ischemic stroke (IS) survivors using ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM).

Methods: We included fifty consecutive patients presenting at our outpatient clinic for review and who had been discharged for IS in the previous six months. 24-h ABPM was performed with Spacelab 90207 monitor.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in stroke survivors: do we really control our patients?

Background: We aim to evaluate prospectively the long-term changes of blood pressure (BP) in stroke survivors using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and compare them with the clinic conventional measurements.

Methods: We studied 101 patients who were admitted within 24h after stroke onset. To study the circadian rhythm of BP a continuous BP monitor (Spacelab 90207) was used.

Statins in stroke prevention: what an internist should know.

Historically, the etiological link between hypercholesterolemia and stroke has been less clear than for coronary heart disease. The lack of association between cholesterol levels and stroke in most epidemiological and observational studies has brought about this controversy. Many recent, long-term clinical studies have confirmed that statin therapy results in a reduced risk of strokes, even in so-called "normocholesterolemic" patients.

[Influence on white coat effect and heart rate of antihypertensive agents used at a urban health center].

Background: We name white coat effect (WCE) to the difference between the systolic arterial pressure (SAP)/diastolic AP (DAP) of consulting room and the ambulatory obtained one with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). In our work we analyzed by means of ABPM, the influence of the antihypertensive medicaments on the WCE and the cardiac frequency of use of the antihypertensive ones.

Design: Almost experimental study (with a period before and a period later) and descriptive.