Lovastatin for the Treatment of Mildly Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Exclusion Criteria

• •Serum creatinine level greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• •Currently taking a statin or have taken a statin within 12 weeks of study entry
• •History of an adverse reaction to a statin
• •Active or recent infection within 4 weeks of study entry
• •Myositis or an unexplained elevation in creatine phosphokinase (CPK)
• •Joint replacement surgery within 60 days of study entry or plan to undergo joint replacement surgery during the course of the study
• •Intra-articular cortisone injections within 4 weeks of study entry
• •Chronic disorders other than RA affecting the joints, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriatic arthritis, gout, scleroderma, or known reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome)
• •HIV infection
• •Hepatitis B surface antigen positive
• •Hepatitis C antibody positive
• •Treatment with infliximab within 12 weeks of study entry
• •Treatment with rituximab
• •Treatment with medications known to be metabolized by the cytochrome P3A4 pathway. More information about this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• •Require amiodarone or verapamil
• •Investigational drug or treatment during the 4 weeks or seven half-lives prior to study entry
• •History of alcohol abuse
• •History of liver disease, current liver disease (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis), or abnormal liver function (AST or ALT greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal \[ULN\])
• •Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study
• •Pregnancy or breastfeeding