added tag b/c this directly relates to the answer of the Q on NBME Form 11, see below:
A 62-year-old woman is scheduled for discharge 3 days after admission to the hospital for a small infarction in the distribution of the left middle cerebral artery. Her presenting symptom of mild weakness of the right upper and lower extremities has gradually resolved during the past 3 days. On admission, echocardiography and ambulatory ECG monitoring showed no abnormalities. She has a 5-year history of hypertension treated with hydrochlorothiazide and atenolol. She has no other personal history of serious illness. She has never smoked. Vital signs are within normal limits. Cardiac examination shows a regular rhythm and no murmurs. Neurologic examination shows no focal findings. In addition to aspirin therapy, which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy to prevent recurrent cerebral infarction in this patient?
Answer: Atorvastatin