TY - JOUR ID - 16724 TI - Interferon β-1a and Atorvastatin in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis JO - Iranian Journal of Immunology JA - IJI LA - en SN - 1735-1383 AU - Ghasami, Keyvan AU - Faraji, Fardin AU - Fazeli, Masoud AU - Ghazavi, Ali AU - Mosayebi, Ghasem AD - Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran AD - Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran AD - Department of Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Center (IDRC), School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran AD - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran Y1 - 2016 PY - 2016 VL - 13 IS - 1 SP - 16 EP - 26 KW - Atorvastatin KW - Cytokines KW - Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores (EDSS) KW - Interferon β-1a KW - Multiple Sclerosis KW - Nitric oxide DO - N2 - 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. UR - https://iji.sums.ac.ir/article_16724.html L1 - https://iji.sums.ac.ir/article_16724_e055e6acde1d1061c048227ad8d43eed.pdf ER -