Histological and molecular confirmation of the tolerability of atorvastatin in dermatomyositis and antisynthetase syndrome

A Brazilian team conducted a pilot study of the effects of atorvastatin 20mg/day versus placeboLe placebo est un produit dont la présentation est identique à celle d’un médicament, mais qui ne contient pas de principe actif. Dans un essai clinique, un placebo est utilisé pour mesurer l’action réelle du médicament testé, en comparant les effets du médicament testé contenant le principe actif et ceux du placebo. for 12 weeks in 20 people with stable dermatomyositis (DM) or antisynthetase syndrome (SAS) and hyperlipidaemia. The results, published in 2021, showed good clinical muscle tolerance and an improvement in the lipid profile on atorvastatin.

The same team studied muscle biopsies from 16 participants in the pilot study, before starting treatment and 12 weeks after stopping it.

The results showed that atorvastatin did not cause any significant changes in genes linked to mitochondrial, oxidative, insulin, lipid or fibrogenesis metabolism, or any histological or histochemical changes in muscle.

In the authors’ view, these results support the safety of atorvastatin administration in the treatment of dyslipidaemia in people with dermatomyositis or anti-synthetase syndrome.

Effect of atorvastatin on muscle tissues of dermatomyositis and antisynthetase syndrome patients with dyslipidemia. Borges IBP, Oba-Shinjo SM, Lerario AM et al. Int J Rheum Dis. 2023 Nov 7.

 

Safety of Atorvastatin in Patients With Stable Systemic Autoimmune Myopathies: A Pilot Longitudinal Study. Pires Borges IB, de Oliveira DS, Misse RG et al. J Clin Rheumatol. 2021 Sep 1;27(6S):S236-S241.