Introduction Many studies to date on the link between blood lipid levels and cerebrovascular disease have been hampered by conceptual and methodological limitations, especially failure to separate different types of stroke.

Objective Determine the relationship between serum lipid levels and the occurrence of different types of stroke.

Methods Two case and control studies were undertaken. The first consisted of three groups: subjects with cerebral infarction (CI), subjects with cerebral hemorrhage (CH) and a control group of healthy individuals with no history of cerebrovascular disease. The second study included three groups: those with atheromatous CI, those with CI of other etiology, and the healthy control group. The influence of variables such as age, sex, and presence of risk factors was also assessed.

Results CI patients were found to have higher total cholesterol levels (p<0.01), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p<0.01), and triglycerides (p<0.01) than those in the control group. CH patients had lower total cholesterol levels (p<0.05), and higher triglycerides levels (p<0.05) than the control group. The second study revealed a link between blood lipid levels and CI only in cases of atheromatous stroke. This association was prevalent in women, and was independent of other risk factors.

Conclusions The type of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and the etiopathogenic subtype of CI must be considered when studying association between blood lipids and occurrence of stroke. Elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides are associated with occurrence of atheromatous CI, while low total cholesterol levels and high triglycerides levels are associated with the CH occurrence.

Keywords cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, atherosclerosis, vascular diseases, cerebrovascular disorders, stroke, cerebrovascular accident, CVA, ischemia, hyperlipidemias

The following erratum has been corrected in all versions of this article.

Page 28, full paragraph 8, second sentence should read: “Serum was stored at -20ºC for no longer than 20 days.”