Effects of Short-term Intensive Statin Therapy on Lipid Levels

Effects of Short-term Intensive Statin Therapy on Lipid Levels in Patients With Ischemic Stroke or Large Artery Atherosclerosis: A Prospective Observational Study

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI), often linked to arterial stenosis, is a major cause of death and disability. Statins are cornerstone therapies for secondary prevention, effectively lowering LDL-C and stabilizing plaques. However, patient response to intensive statin therapy varies significantly. This prospective study aims to analyze the short-term lipid-lowering effects and influencing factors of such therapy in ACI patients with stenosis, to guide personalized treatment and improve outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years;
• Diagnosis of ischemic stroke (within 14 days of onset) confirmed by cranial CT/MRI; or imaging-confirmed intracranial/extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (stenosis rate ≥ 50%);
• Intensive statin therapy (e.g., atorvastatin 40-80 mg/day or rosuvastatin 20 mg/day) initiated within 24 hours of admission, with a planned continuous application for at least one week;
• Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of statin therapy within 1 week prior to admission;
• Receiving other lipid-lowering treatments;
• Presence of other serious comorbidities (e.g., malignant tumors, end-stage heart failure) with an expected survival of <1 year;
• Pregnant or lactating women;
• Participation in other drug clinical trials within 3 months;
• Other conditions deemed unsuitable by the investigator.