Atorvastatin effect on activity disease of ankylosing spondylitis

ABSTRACT

In addition to changing the fat metabolism, Statins may also possess anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Atorvastatin on controlling the activity of Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS] in the out-patients who had active disease and referred to Imam Hossein Hospital in Tehran, between 2007-2008. At a before and after experimental study, 20 patients with active AS were treated with Atorvastatin [20 mg/day] for 12 weeks. At the beginning and the end of the study, plasma concentrations of ESR, CRP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL and the following clinical measures, BASDAI, BASFI, patient global assessment, spinal pain, morning stiffness, BASMI, chest expansion, modified schober test and occiput to wall distant were determined and their changes were statistically analyzed. The clinical measures, BASDAI [p < 0.001], pain score [p < 0.006], morning stiffness [p < 0.003], modified schober test [p < 0.04], patient global assessment of disease activity [p < 0.05] and BASMI [p < 0.04] improved after treatment with Atorvastatin. 45% of patients had ASAS-20 improvement criteria.Treatment with Atorvastatin in patients with active AS despite previous medication can lead to significant improvement in patients' symptoms and reduction of disease activity. As this study doesn't have a following period after stopping Atorvastatin; supplementary studies are proposed with following period after stopping Atorvastatin in patients with active AS