Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Atorvastatin 40 mg in Patients With Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Interferon-beta-1b

Background Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs which inhibit the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA-) reductase, which is the main regulatory enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis. In recent years many studies have demonstrated, that statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in addition to their lipid-lowering effects. Therefore, statins may have therapeutic potential in immune-mediated disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis, as well as smaller studies in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis showed beneficial effect on the course of the disease. But there are also reports of negative impact of statins on multiple sclerosis. Therefore, bigger studies are needed to investigate the therapeutical potential of statins in multiple sclerosis. Objective To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the combination of atorvastatin 40mg p.o. daily and interferon-beta 1b sc e.o.d compared to monotherapy with interferon-beta-1b sc e.o.d in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis for 12 month after completing the SWABIMS study. Methods Multi-center, rater-blinded, parallel-group, two arm, randomized study. Patients with relapsing-remitting forms of MS, respecting all inclusion/exclusion criteria, were randomized in the SWABIMS study in two equal-size parallel arms after three months of treatment with interferon-beta 1b, receiving atorvastatin 40mg/d or not in addition to interferon-beta 1b for 12 month. After successful completion of the study, patients were asked to participate in the "SWABIMS Follow up study" for another 12 month with ongoing medication.