Résumé
Background: statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects
Objective: to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-[beta] in the treatment of multiple sclerosis [MS] in a randomized controlled clinical trial
Methods: multiple sclerosis patients were randomized independently, in a double blind design, into one of two treatment groups. Control group [n=45] received 30 [micro]g/week interferon [beta]-1a via intra-muscular injection. Atorvastatin-treated group [n=50] received interferon [beta]-1a similar to control group in addition to atorvastatin [40 mg/day] for 18-months. All clinical and immunological variables were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study
Results: there was no significant difference between the two groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 18-month treatment period. After 18 months, the levels of interleukin [IL]-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-[beta] and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Levels of IL-17, TNF-[alpha] and lymphocyte proliferation in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly lower than the control group
Conclusion: although combined atorvastatin and interferon-[beta] do not change the clinical course of MS, atorvastatin might have beneficial effects in MS treatment possibly through inducing anti-inflammatory responses