@article { author = {Ghasami, Keyvan and Faraji, Fardin and Fazeli, Masoud and Ghazavi, Ali and Mosayebi, Ghasem}, title = {Interferon β-1a and Atorvastatin in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis}, journal = {Iranian Journal of Immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {16-26}, year = {2016}, publisher = {Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research}, issn = {1735-1383}, eissn = {1735-367X}, doi = {}, abstract = {Background: Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: Multiple sclerosis patients were randomized independently, in a double blind design, into one of two treatment groups. Control group (n=45) received 30 μg/week interferon β-1a via intra-muscular injection. Atorvastatin-treated group (n=50) received interferon β-1a similar to control group in addition to atorvastatin (40 mg/day) for 18-months. All clinical and immunological variables were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 18-month treatment period. After 18 months, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Levels of IL-17, TNF-α and lymphocyte proliferation in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: Although combined atorvastatin and interferon-β do not change the clinical course of MS, atorvastatin might have beneficial effects in MS treatment possibly through inducing anti-inflammatory responses.}, keywords = {Atorvastatin,Cytokines,Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores (EDSS),Interferon β-1a,Multiple Sclerosis,Nitric oxide}, url = {https://iji.sums.ac.ir/article_16724.html}, eprint = {https://iji.sums.ac.ir/article_16724_e055e6acde1d1061c048227ad8d43eed.pdf} }