Statins 'could increase recurrence of stroke'

Statins could increase the risk of stroke recurrence in some patients, according to a study.

Researchers from the Harvard Medical School in Boston found that those who have experienced a haemorrhagic stroke are more likely to have another stroke if they are on statins to combat heart disease.

A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when an individual experiences a stroke due to bleeding in the brain rather than one caused by a clot.

It was found that statins could raise the chance of another stroke in these patients from 14 per cent to 22 per cent.

Dr Michael Brandon Westover said: "Because intracerebral haemorrhage sufferers commonly have co-morbid [co-occurring] cardiovascular risk factors that would otherwise warrant cholesterol-lowering medication, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of statin therapy in this population."

This comes after a study published in The Lancet Neurology found that anti-depressant fluoxetine could boost motor ability in those recovering from a stroke.

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