Kamm, Christian PhilippChristian PhilippKammEl-Koussy, MarwanMarwanEl-KoussyHumpert, SebastianSebastianHumpertFindling, OliverOliverFindlingvon Bredow, FerdinandFerdinandvon BredowBurren, YuliyaYuliyaBurrenSchwegler, GuidoGuidoSchweglerSchött, DagmarDagmarSchöttDonati, FilippoFilippoDonatiMüller, MartinMartinMüllerGoebels, NorbertNorbertGoebelsMüller, FelixFelixMüllerSlotboom, JohannesJohannesSlotboomTettenborn, BarbaraBarbaraTettenbornKappos, LudwigLudwigKapposNaegelin, YvonneYvonneNaegelinMattle, HeinrichHeinrichMattle2024-10-112024-10-112012https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/77494Statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in addition to lipid-lowering effects. The present study evaluated the effect of atorvastatin added to interferon beta-1b in multiple sclerosis (MS) in a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, rater-blinded study performed in eight Swiss hospitals. Seventy-seven patients with relapsing-remitting MS started interferon beta-1b every other day. After 3 months, they were randomized 1:1 to receive atorvastatin 40 mg/day or not in addition to interferon beta-1b until month 15. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with new lesions on T2-weighted images at month 15 compared to baseline at month three. At study end, the proportion of patients with new lesions on T2-weighted images was equal in both groups (odds ratio 1.14; 95 % CI 0.36-3.56; p = 0.81). All predefined secondary endpoints including number of new lesions and total lesion volume on T2-weighted images, total number of new Gd-enhancing lesions on T1-weighted images, total brain volume, volume of grey matter, volume of white matter, EDSS, MSFC, relapse rate, time to first relapse, number of relapse-free patients and neutralizing antibodies did not show any significant differences (all p values >0.1). Transient elevations of liver enzymes were more frequent with atorvastatin (p = 0.02). In conclusion, atorvastatin 40 mg/day in addition to interferon beta-1b did not have a beneficial effect on relapsing-remitting MS compared to interferon beta-1b monotherapy over a 12-month period.enarticle10.7892/boris.70392256983500031047210001810.1007/s00415-012-6513-7