Statins may help to slow the progression of advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers have found.

A daily dose of simvastatin 80mg slowed brain shrinkage by 43 per cent over two years in patients with secondary progressive MS, according to a study published in the Lancet yesterday (March 19).

The treatment was well-tolerated and also made a "small but significant" improvement in disability scores compared to placebo, in the randomised trial of 140 UK patients aged between 18 and 65.

A daily dose of simvastatin 80mg slowed brain shrinkage by 43 per cent over two years in patients with secondary progressive MS, the researchers found	More clinical news Do more to support stroke patients, researchers urge EMA recommends lower dose of nausea relief drug MHRA moves towards online-only prescribing information
	The study was led by consultant neurologist Jeremy Chataway, of University College London Hospitals, who said the main measure of its success was the effect on brain shrinkage, which was approximately 0.6 per cent a year in progressive MS.

Simvastatin reduced brain shrinkage on average by 0.3 per cent a year and did not produce more adverse drug reactions in patients compared to those taking the placebo, he said.

The researchers found that the cholesterol-lowering drug amounted to a 43 per cent reduction in the rate of shrinkage when adjusted for factors such as age and gender. No licensed drug had before shown such a "convincing" impact on the late stage of the disease, they said.

The results showed simvastatin could be a treatment option for secondary progressive MS, which was currently untreatable, the authors concluded.

However, the study's findings would not necessarily translate into clinical benefit and further investigation in larger trials was warranted, Dr Chataway added.

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