Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Japan Statin Treatment Against Recurrent Stroke(J-STARS Echo)

Inclusion Criteria: * Ischemic stroke except for cardiogenic embolism, from 1 month to 3 years after onset * Hyperlipidemia and total cholesterol level of 180-240mg/dl without the prescription of statin within previous 30 days * Able to visit outpatient department * Informed consent on the form. Exclusion Criteria: * Ischemic stroke of other determined cause according to the TOAST classification * Ischemic heart disease and necessary to use statin * Hemorrhagic disorders * Platelet count \<=100,000/ul within 3 months prior to study start * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST)\>= 100IU/L within 3 months prior to study start * Serum creatinine \>=2.0mg/dl within 3 months prior to study start * A scheduled operation * The presence of malignant disorder * Patients whom carotid ultrasound cannot examine because of neck tumor or torticollis * Patients after carotid endarterectomy or radiation therapy to neck * Patients whose carotid ultrasound cannot be examined because of neck tumor or torticollis * Patients after carotid endarterectomy or radiation therapy to neck