Efficacy and safety of simvastatin in chronic plaque psoriasis

To determine the efficacy and safety of simvastatin in chronic plaque psoriasis. Sixty patients of either sex, aged between 18 and 70 years were included in the study. Efficacy was determined by percentage reduction in psoriasis area and severity index [PASI] score from baseline. Safety of simvastatin was evaluated by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT], creatinine phosphokinase [CPK] and bilirubin at baseline, 4[th], 8[th] and 12[th] week. The data were analyzed for variables like age, sex and percentage reduction in PASI score. There was >50% reduction in PASI score in 20% patients. Out of these, 8 patients had moderate plaque psoriasis and 4 patients had severe psoriasis. In remaining 80% cases simvastatin did not prove to be efficacious. The drug was safe and well-tolerated. Simvastatin can be affective in patients with moderate disease as compared to cases with severe plaque psoriasis. The drug was safe and well-tolerated.