title: The role of simvastatin in the therapeutic approach of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The pleiotropic effects of statins, especially the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory ones, indicate that their therapeutic potential might extend beyond cholesterol lowering and cardiovascular disease to other inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, we undertook a prospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of simvastatin used for inflammation control in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. One hundred patients with active rheumatoid arthritis divided into two equal groups (the study one who received 20 mg/day of simvastatin in addition to prior DMARDs and the control one) were followed up over six months during three study visits. The results of the study support the fact that simvastatin at a dose of 20 mg/day has a low anti-inflammatory effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with a good safety profile.
authors.affiliation: Internal-Medicine Cardiology, Ovidius University of Constanta, Faculty of Medicine, Cardiology Clinic, Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.forename: Andrei Constantin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rusali
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suţa
authors.forename: Anca Mihaela
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rădulescu
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suţa
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Craiu