Effects of policosanol in the functional recovery of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke hypertensive patients

Introduction. Clinical studies results show that policosanol (20 mg/day) + aspirin therapy had benefits versus placebo + aspirin to patients with recent non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. Aim. To analyze the policosanol treatment effects in the hypertensive patients included in two non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke recovery trials. Patients and methods. Hypertensive patients with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 2 to 4 were randomized, within 30 days of onset, to policosanol + aspirin or placebo + aspirin, for six months. The primary outcome was mRS score reduction. Results. One hundred forty two hypertensive patients (mean age: 66 years) were included in the analysis. Policosanol + aspirin decreased significantly the mRS score mean from the first interim check-up. The policosanol treatment effect did not wear off, on the contrary, even improved after six months therapy. More over, policosanol + aspirin (80.3%) treatment achieved significant results (mRS 1), whereas the placebo + aspirin did not (8.5%). Two patients discontinued and four (two from each group) referred mild adverse events. Conclusions. The treatment for six months with policosanol + aspirin in hypertensive patients who had suffered a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke proved to be more effective than the placebo + aspirin treatment in the functional recovery of these patients.