New strategies for prevention of ischemic stroke: the LIFE study.

New strategies to lower the risk of stroke among high-risk persons are being developed. Therapies such as cholesterol-lowering medications and newer antihypertensive agents appear to complement traditional antithrombotic drugs and surgical procedures. Of particular interest is the use of the newer angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which appear to have an effect on stabilizing the vascular endothelium. The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint (LIFE) reduction in hypertension study provides additional data to support the use of the ACE inhibitors to lower the risk of stroke among patients with hypertension and vascular diseases.