Are statins safe in patients with ALS?

[eml256]

*http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/17482960802031092

Are statin medications safe in patients with ALS?
Authors: Lorne Zinman a; Reza Sadeghi a; Marek Gawel a; Dan Patton a; Alex Kiss b
Affiliations: a ALS/Neuromuscular Clinic, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
b Department of Research Design and Biostatistics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Published in: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Volume 9, Issue 4 2008 , pages 223 - 228


Statin medications for elevated cholesterol are one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine if statin medications affect the rate of disease progression, the severity and frequency of muscle cramping, and serum CK levels in patients with ALS. We conducted a prospective cohort study in patients diagnosed with ALS with statin medication as the predetermined exposure variable and the rate of decline of the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) as the primary outcome. One hundred and sixty-four consecutive patients with laboratory supported probable, clinically probable, or clinically definite ALS were evaluated from January 2006 to September 2007. Thirty-two patients (20%) were taking statin medications and 132 were in the control group. After adjusting for covariates, we found a highly significant increase in the rate of decline in the ALSFRS-R for the statin group (1.71 units/month) compared to the control group (1.05 units/month, p<0.0001) representing a 63% increase in the rate of functional decline. Patients on statin therapy also reported a significant increase in muscle cramp frequency and severity (p<0.0001). This study has demonstrated a strong association between statin medications and an increased rate of functional decline and muscle cramping in patients with ALS. Although this association does not prove a causal relationship, it is prudent to exercise caution and discuss discontinuation or replacement of statin medications in patients with ALS.

[Brian C.]

I sincerely hope no more experiments will be carried out involving administration of statins to ALS sufferers on strict ethical grounds.


Brian.

[eml256]

It does not read as if any patients with ALS were started on statins for this study. I have not read the entire report, but from the abstract sounds as if the 32 patients were already on a statin. Though there are many studies out there recommending statins for neurodegenerative diseases because of statins' "anti inflammatory effects and increase in perfusion" pleiotropic efffects. forgetting about--or rather, ignoring, the other "pleiotropic effects".

[Brian C.]

Those studies make the blood run cold.
Why the apparent widespread ignorance amongst researchers and medics of the effects on cells of downregulation of farnesyl (leads to apoptosis)?

This ignorance is testimony to something seriously awry at the heart of medical science.

BTW contributor Jeff Cable (xrn) is currently preparing a paper for the WHO in which an extraordinarily high proportion of respondents reporting diagnosed ALS has been encountered in the petition he initiated at

*http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/investigate-statins/signatures.html


Brian.