Statin drugs work by blocking the key step in cholesterol production in the liver. By blocking the endogenous (body's own) production of cholesterol and decreasing the amount of saturated fat in the diet individuals can greatly decrease their risk for cardiovascular disease. Statins are also thought to lower inflammation by affecting migration of cells and chemical mediators in areas that are damaged or inflamed.
Researchers from the Jichi Medical School in Japan tested the effectiveness of statin drugs against rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune mediated disease that destroys the tissue of synovial joints.
They placed high levels of two different statin drugs in Petri dishes with synovial cells. They found that one statin drug, fluvastatin, resulted in cell death or apoptosis. The synovial cells literally burst when the environment was flooded with statin drug medication.
Though the study was carried out in vitro (in a Petri dish) the results are still significant because previous clinical trials did show an unexpected improvement in symptoms and disease index for rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers in Japan are trying to determine the means in which statin drugs provide treatment for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Clinical trials are needed to determine if statin drugs should be a treatment option for individuals with arthritis due to there ability to lower inflammation and affect the synovial cells in joints. Statin drugs may become a first line treatment choice, especially in those with high risk of heart disease and complications that may or may not result from the use of medications such as Vioxx and Celebrex.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on May 11, 2006 08:47 PM
