The potential role for statins in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
In 1995, it was observed that the administration of statins to heart transplant patients resulted in fewer episodes of rejection, thus a role for statins in the treatment of inflammatory disease was suggested. To date, the results of a single, open-label trial in multiple sclerosis patients have demonstrated that treatment with one of the statins, simvastatin, reduced the number and volume of lesions, as observed using gadolinium-enhancing magnetic resonance imaging. While the results of this first study seem promising, the rationale for using a cholesterol-lowering drug in a demyelinating disease must be addressed, in addition to the potential problems that the side effects of statins may produce in multiple sclerosis patients.
Darlington
Cynthia L
CL
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand. cynthia.darlington@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin