Stroke: Association between beta-blocker or statin use and risk of cavernous malformation bleeding

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) can manifest as seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, focal neurological deficits, or incidentally on brain magnetic resonance imaging

A study published in Stroke, an authoritative journal in the field of cardiovascular disease, aims to determine the relationship between beta-blocker or statin use and future symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or intracranial cavernous malformation (CCM).

The population-based Scottish cohort of adults with intracranial vascular malformations prospectively identified adult residents of Scotland with a first diagnosis of CCM between 1999-2003 or 2006-2010

63 (21%) of 300 adults used beta-blockers (27/63 [43%] propranolol) and 73 (24%) used 3634 visits/years of follow-up statins

CONCLUSIONS: The use of beta-blockers, rather than statins, reduces the risk of intracranial hemorrhage or persistent/progressive focal neurological deficits in patients with CCM

Original source:

Susanna M.