Using a combination therapy of aspirin, anti-cholesterol drugs and anti-blood pressure drugs appears to decrease the severity of stroke if one does occur in such patients, according to a new study. The study, which tracked 179 stroke patients, found that the prognosis was markedly better in such patients.
"Its possible that these three drugs work synergistically to reduce the amount of brain tissue that is damaged in the penumbra by improving blood flow," said lead researcher Dr. Magdy Selim, who is also a neurologist at Harvard Medical School. The report is published in the April 25 issue of the journal Neurology.
Almost 65 percent of patients on triple therapy showed a better response from the time they were admitted as compared to 45 percent of those on aspirin plus an anti-blood pressure drug. The study also noted that 43 percent of those taking aspirin and a statin showed improvement in brain function, while 33 percent responded even though they were not taking any of these drugs.
The researchers also used the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, which is a standard used to measure 15 parameters of brain function. Patients on triple therapy showed higher scores on the scale. Another advantage of the therapy seemed to be the fact that these patients were released early from the hospitals.
They went home six days after the attack at least one day sooner than the patients on aspirin and three days sooner than those who did not take any drugs. Brain scans showed that all patients suffered equal damage, but the number of risky brain cells was reduced in the triple therapy.
"These three drugs are commonly prescribed and well tolerated and could potentially have a protective effect on the brain after a stroke," Selim said. However, the triple therapy is not that common. Only 20 patients of the 179 in the study were on it, while 47 people took aspirin alone, 29 took aspirin and blood pressure drug and 69 patients did not take any drug.
But an editorial accompanying the study adds that large trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of the therapy.
