Atorvastatin (Lipitor) Therapy in Patients With Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) at Risk for Multiple Sclerosis

Exclusion Criteria

• •Definite diagnosis of MS according to McDonald criteria
• •Previous history of neurological symptoms lasting more than 48 hours. Patients with a history of neurological symptoms lasting less than 48 hours will not be excluded.
• •Prior use of interferon, glatiramer acetate, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, or plasmapheresis anytime prior to study entry
• •Use of interferon preparations (unless as specified by the protocol), glatiramer acetate, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, or plasmapheresis during the study
• •Use of cyclosporine, fibric acid derivatives, niacin, erythromycin, or azole antifungal during the study
• •Received more than 5 g of methylprednisolone (or the equivalent of other IV corticosteroid) prior to study screening
• •Use of a cholesterol-lowering agent during the 3 months prior to study screening or need for such agents during the study
• •Previous history of severe side effects with statin therapy
• •Prior exposure to total lymphoid irradiation
• •History of substance abuse in the 12 months prior to study screening
• •History of systemic illness or medical condition that would limit the likelihood of completing the MRI procedures or would interfere with the measurement of a therapeutic effect
• •Implanted pacemakers, cochlear implants, defibrillators, or metallic objects on or inside the body
• •Uncontrolled hypertension, asthma, known malignancy other than skin cancer, symptomatic cardiac disease, epilepsy, insulin-dependent diabetes, or symptoms that can only be explained by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune diseases
• •Active liver disease
• •Major medical illnesses or psychiatric impairment that in the investigator's opinion could interfere with the study
• •History of severe depression or suicidal ideation within 1 year of study entry
• •Pregnancy or breastfeeding