Cholesterol lowering drugs, statins, may help fight rheumatoid arthritis

Main Category: Statins
Article Date: 18 Jun 2004 - 9:00 PDT


Cholesterol lowering drugs, or statins, do not only cut heart attack risks and prevent many cancers, they also may help fight rheumatoid arthritis, say researchers at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland.

The scientists gave patients 40mg of Lipitor, a Pfizer statin. They detected a small improvement in arthritis symptoms in their patients. Although the improvement was small, it was 'significant'. They were also given normal arthritis drugs.

Statins are being dubbed the wonder drugs of the new millennium. They are the biggest selling drugs in the world. Pharmaceutical economists estimate world sales currently stand at well over $20bn per year.

Statins may have health benefits for the following conditions:

-- Heart Disease
-- Preventing strokes
-- Multiple Sclerosis
-- Alzheimer's Disease
-- Glaucoma
-- Osteoporosis
-- Many Cancers

You can read about this new study in the medical journal The Lancet.

The researchers selected 116 patients. Some were given Lipitor while others had a placebo (randomly selected). The trial, the first aimed at observing statins in rheumatoid arthritis, went on for six months.

The study provided even more evidence that statins seem to have great anti-inflammatory properties.

The team found that patients noticed a reduction of swelling in three joints. Most of the patients started the trial with 12-15 swollen joints. TNF blockers, the standard drug given to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, relieves about 8-6 joints. TNF blockers are administered by injection.

The researchers said that although statins only brought about limited benefits to those patients, the benefits were in addition to standard drugs. They also stressed that many patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of stroke or heart attack (statins are used to prevent strokes and heart attacks).

The researchers say they are planning a large scale, five year study.

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