Vol.20 No.3

Original Article

A comparative study of anti-inflammatory and antidyslipidemic effects of fenofibrate and statins on rheumatoid arthritis

Authors

Makoto Goto1,2

  • Division of Anti-Aging and Longevity Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Engineering, Department of Medical Engineering, Toin University of Yokohama, 1614 Kurogane-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa, 225-8502, Japan
  • Department of Rheumatology, Yokohama General Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
Received:

29 September 2009

Accepted:

25 November 2009

Published online:

9 February 2010

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Abstract

We prospectively compared the anti-inflammatory and antidyslipidemic effects of fenofibrate and statins in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Forty-four RA patients [male (M) = 7, female (F) = 37] with dyslipidemia were enrolled in this 6-month study and randomly allocated to the fenofibrate (2 M + 21 F = 23) or statins (5 M + 16 F = 21) group. We measured blood chemistry (serum lipid profile, sugar, urate, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) and blood pressure 2 h after breakfast. Visual analog scale (VAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and prednisolone (PSL) dosage were also recorded immediately before and after the study. Fenofibrate, but not statins, significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein?cholesterol, and triglycerides (all p < 0.05). A significant improvement in VAS was observed in both the fenofibrate group (49.1 ± 24.7 → 14.7 ± 11.2; p < 0.0001) and the statins group (47.4 ± 29.7 → 20.2 ± 16.5; p < 0.001). PSL dosage significantly decreased only in the fenofibrate group (3.58 ± 2.68 → 2.00 ± 2.22 mg/day; p < 0.01). Significant correlation was observed between ?VAS and ?CRP in the fenofibrate group (p < 0.05). Fenofibrate showed more anti-inflammatory and antidyslipidemic activity than statins in RA.

Key words

Clinical trial - Dyslipidaemia - Fenofibrate - Rheumatoid arthritis - Statin