Exploratory Study on the Effects of Early Rosuvastatin Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Inclusion Criteria: 1. 45 to 75 years old patients; 2. Stroke involving the vascular territory of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) as judged by clinical and MRI evidences; 3. Time from symptom onset to take the study assigned medication is within 24 hours; 4. Statin naïve or discontinued at least 3 month before stroke onset; 5. First ever stroke or mild sequelae (with modified Rankin Score 0-1) before the index event; 6. Moderate neurological deficit with baseline NIHSS scoring from 4-20; 7. MRI scans （T1W1、T2W2、T2Flair、DWI、SWI）accomplished from 12 to 48 hours after the onset; 8. Consent form signed. Exclusion Criteria: \- Any of the following is regarded as a criterion for exclusion from the study: 1. Stroke involving the vascular territory of the vertebrobasilar artery as judged by clinical and MRI evidences; 2. Hemorrhagic transformation or intracranial hemorrhage on baseline MRI. MRI performed between 12-48 hours after the onset, if MRI provides evidences which met with the exclusion criteria, the patients will be excluded from the study; 3. Any circumstances under which MRI scans can't be performed; 4. Evidences suggesting cardiogenic stroke such as atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndrome, patent foramen ovale , etc; 5. Comatose with NIHSS 1a\>1; 6. Medical or psychiatric conditions such as severe hepatic or renal dysfunction, heart failure, malignancy, major depression, dementia, alcohol or drug abuse; 7. Suitable for rt-Plasminogen Activator thrombolysis treatment; 8. Receiving medication with possible neuroprotective functions after stroke onset; 9. Currently take steroids therapy; 10. Diagnosed with malignancy within 5 years; 11. Patients with myopathy or serum creatine kinase \> 3 times the upper limit of normal not caused by myocardial injury; 12. Severe renal function damage (eGFR\<30); 13. Concurrent use ciclosporin; 14. A history of hypersensitivity of statins and other severe complication; 15. Child-bearing women ; 16. Patients who are or may be pregnant; 17. Other conditions under which patients not pertinent to attend the study as judged by the investigators.