Statin drug may have slowed brain atrophy in progressive MS

[agate]

A study involving high-dose simvastatin has shown promising results in slowing brain atrophy in progressive MS.

From NEJM Journal Watch, March 19, 2014:

Statin Associated with Slower Brain Atrophy in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

By Joe Elia

A phase 2 study shows a slowing of brain atrophy with a high-dose statin in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

According to a Lancet study, 140 patients were randomized to 80 mg of simvastatin or placebo daily for 24 months. The main outcome was MRI-detected change in brain volume. Measurements were taken at baseline, 12 months, and 25 months.

Atrophy was slower in the statin versus placebo group (roughly 0.3% vs. 0.6% per year — after adjustment, a 40% relative reduction).

The investigators note that because statins "have cell protective properties and improve cerebrovascular haemodynamics, they could be used in patients with later stage multiple sclerosis in whom vascular and brain parenchymal cell dysfunction take place." However, they and commentators caution against overinterpreting the current results and call for phase 3 studies.

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[SalpalSally]

Weren't Statins found to be harmful to peeps with MS?

[agate]

Weren't Statins found to be harmful to peeps with MS?

A few years ago they found that atorvastatin combined with an interferon made MS worse in some people.

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Here they're talking about simvastatin and in progressive MS. I don't know whether the patients in the study were also taking DMDs--my guess is that they weren't, or it would have been mentioned.

The entire Lancet article can be seen here.

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[jendie]

I had heard that simvastin (Zocor) was helpful to people with MS. Here's a WebMD article from 2003. :

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[agate]

Thanks for finding this, Jendie. I'm not sure what happened with that study but the 2014 study was done with SPMS and found reduced brain shrinkage, while the study you linked to involved RRMS and found fewer lesions with simvastatin.

Sally, here's a study showing that atorvastatin combined with Rebif did make MS worse, apparently. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is a different statin from simvastatin (Zocor), but maybe the results of this study are one reason we haven't been hearing so much about statins in recent years--until this 2014 SPMS study came along.



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[Braindead]

FDA says NO to 80 mg ZOCOR

Taking high 80 mg of Zocor (simvastatin) is a BIG NO! NO!! FDA says that no new folks should be given this high 80 mg dose.

Braindead

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[agate]

Taking high 80 mg of Zocor (simvastatin) is a BIG NO! NO!! FDA says that no new folks should be given this high 80 mg dose.

Braindead

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Well, the FDA warning is from 2011, and this study is being reported in 2014 though the study took place between 2008 and 2011. Also, it was an experiment using that dosage on a trial basis. Probably the thinking was that in some cases--some people with SPMS, for instance--the high (80mg daily) dose of simvastatin might be warranted, and some people were willing to take part in the study in order to find out more about that possibility. I think what they're saying is that the results were promising enough to justify moving forward to a Phase 3 trial, but again it would be a trial, using a drug dosage that isn't usually recommended.

[Lazarus]

I meant to bring this up with my neuro..

But I forgot...(stupid joke but I could not help it).
I am serious though. This research is very significant. The limitations to the ways I interact in the world are The result of thinking difficulties.