Effects of Atorvastatin on Disease Activity and HDL Cholesterol Function in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

NCT ID: NCT00356473

Last Updated: 2012-06-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2003-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2005-09-30

Brief Summary

This research evaluates the effects of a cholesterol-lowering medication, atorvastatin, on both arthritis activity and the ability of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, sometimes referred to as "good cholesterol") to prevent changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, sometimes referred to as "bad cholesterol"), which lead to atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries." We hypothesize that atorvastatin may improve both joint inflammation and the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL cholesterol.

Detailed Description

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cardiovascular events occur more frequently than would be expected in patients with RA and traditional heart risk factors do not explain this increased risk. Further research is needed to pursue ways of reducing heart disease mortality and improving outcome in patients with RA.

There is reason to believe that a class of cholesterol-lowering medications called statins, beneficial in cardiovascular disease prevention, may be able to reduce the irritation of the joints ("inflammation") associated with RA. Statins have been shown to reduce manifestations of inflammation in the blood of patients at increased risk for heart disease, and in the process reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death. Some similarities in the nature of both RA and heart disease may suggest potential benefits of statin therapy in both conditions.

In addition to inflammation, another factor which may contribute to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in RA patients is dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, sometimes referred to as "good cholesterol"). Normally, HDL-C acts to counter a type of damage called "oxidation" within LDL-C which is a critical step in the development and progression of heart disease. Data from patients with RA and system lupus erythematosus (SLE) suggests that patients with active rheumatic diseases such as RA and SLE may have increased amounts of dysfunctional HDL-C, and therefore they may be at increased risk of heart disease. A blood test developed by Dr. Navab and colleagues at UCLA rapidly assesses this HDL-C function. This study will investigate both the level of HDL-C antioxidant function in patients with active RA as well as whether abnormal HDL function can be improved by statin use in this population. This research also evaluates the effects of atorvastatin on arthritis activity. We hypothesize that atorvastatin may improve both joint inflammation and the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL cholesterol.

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Placebo

Placebo

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Atorvastatin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Atorvastatin

Atorvastatin

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Atorvastatin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Interventions

Atorvastatin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Fulfill American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA

At least 18 years of age

Have RA for at least one year with ongoing active disease (active disease defined as at least two of three: 1) ≥ six tender joints; 2) ≥ three swollen joints; 3) ≥ 45 minutes of morning stiffness)

Taking stable doses of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy for at least 3 months prior to study entry -

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to give informed consent

Pregnant or lactating

Eligible for pharmacologic lipid-lowering therapy per National Cholesterol Treatment Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines

Using any lipid lowering medication

Known hepatic disease

Elevated liver transaminase levels within the past two months

Previous treatment in the last three months with hydroxychloroquine

-

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of California, Los Angeles

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Principal Investigators

Benjamin J Ansell, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, Los Angeles

References

Charles-Schoeman C, Khanna D, Furst DE, McMahon M, Reddy ST, Fogelman AM, Paulus HE, Park GS, Gong T, Ansell BJ. Effects of high-dose atorvastatin on antiinflammatory properties of high density lipoprotein in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study. J Rheumatol. 2007 Jul;34(7):1459-64. Epub 2007 Jun 1.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 17552046 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

02-07-061-02

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id