Statin on post-stroke epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Statins show potential in reducing post-stroke epilepsy (PSE), especially after ischemic stroke, though evidence is inconsistent.
• Current stroke guidelines do not recommend anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) for post-stroke epilepsy prevention.
• Statins may represent a viable alternative for preventing epilepsy in stroke survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the effect of statins on preventing epilepsy after stroke.
• To assess the efficacy of statins in reducing the incidence of post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) and early-onset seizures (ES).

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was conducted.
• Correlative cohort studies were included.
• Main outcomes were post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) and early-onset seizure (ES). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Seven studies with 40,831 participants were included.
• Statin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of PSE (OR 0.60, 95% CI [0.42, 0.84], p=0.003).
• A remarkable reduction in early-onset seizures (ES) was observed with statin use (OR 0.36, 95% CI [0.25, 0.54], p<0.00001).

Conclusions:

• Appropriate use of statins after stroke is effective in reducing the risk of post-stroke epilepsy (PSE).
• Statins demonstrate a particularly strong effect in preventing early-onset seizures (ES) following stroke.