International Study Finds Lipitor Reduces Second Stroke; Trial Founder and Highest Enroller at Nashville's Saint Thomas Hospital.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The New England Journal of Medicine released today results of a six-year clinical trial finding the drug Lipitor, given in high doses to stroke patients who had no heart disease, was effective in preventing a second stroke. Dr. Fred Callahan, a stroke neurologist at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, is one of eight physicians worldwide who created the trial.

"The positive results of the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction of Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) study have the potential to change stroke care in the United States. This is the first large placebo-controlled prospective study to investigate patients with prior stroke without established coronary heart disease. This is important information for physicians and patients because once a patient suffers a stroke, current treatment options are limited. This is a landmark finding," said Callahan.

The SPARCL study enrolled 4,731 patients who had no history of heart disease and had experienced a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke) within six months prior to trial enrollment. They were followed for an average of five years. Dr. David Uskavitch, principle investigator at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, was the top enroller of the study in North America.

"In the studied patient population, Lipitor 80 mg reduced the risk for stroke by 16 percent, reduced the risk of major coronary events by 35 percent, and reduced the risk of revascularization procedures by 45 percent. Eighty-five percent of strokes in this trial were ischemic. Ischemic stroke (when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly blocked) is the most common type of stroke. A separate analysis of the SPARCL data that was designed and conducted after the study ended showed that patients taking Lipitor experienced a 22 percent reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke," said Uskavitch.

SPARCL is an investigator-led trial that is being coordinated by an independent steering committee and funded by Pfizer.

About 700,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. On average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds. Stroke kills nearly 157,000 people a year.

Saint Thomas Hospital is known as a leader in vascular care and was a vital participant in SPARCL. Saint Thomas Hospital is a member of Saint Thomas Health Services, a faith-based ministry with more than 7,200 associates serving Middle Tennessee.