Effect of Atorvastatin on the
Disease Activity and Severity of
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Double-Blind
Randomized Controlled Trial
Published: May 1, 2016 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/.7814
Karim Mowla, Elham Rajai, Ali Ghorbani, Mehrdad Dargahi-MalAmir, Mohammad Bahadoram, Shooka Mohammadi
1. Faculty, Department of Rheumatology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
2. Faculty, Department of Rheumatology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
3. Faculty, Department of Nephrology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
4. Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
5. Medical Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
6. Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences Programmes, School of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Correspondence
Dr. Mehrdad Dargahi-Malamir,
Department of Internal Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
E-mail: mohammadbahadoram@yahoo.com
Introduction: HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3- methylglutary lcoenzyme A) reductase inhibitors (statins) have anti-inflammatory properties which may be particularly useful in rheumatoid arthritis to suppress disease activity and inflammatory factors.
Aim: The purpose of this clinical trial was to determine anti-inflammatory properties of statins in rheumatoid arthritis.
Materials and Methods: Eighty Iranian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, aged between 19 to 75 years were recruited to take part in this randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were randomly allocated to two groups to take atorvastatin or placebo 40 mg daily as an adjunct to current disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) treatment. Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), swollen joint count (SJC) & tender joint count (TJC) were assessed before and after three months intervention.
Results: Analysis was based on intention to treat. DAS28 significantly declined in the atorvastatin group in comparison with placebo (p< 0.001). SJC, TJC, CRP and ESR also were significantly dropped in the atorvastatin group in comparison with placebo.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that atorvastatin can suppress RA activity and inflmmatory factors in RA patients for high to moderate grade of inflmmation.
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