[The use of statins, a new approach to the treatment of autoimmune diseases].

HMG-CoA inhibitors (statins) are widely used for the prevention of cardiovascular events and the management of hypercholesterolemia. Recently, multiple cholesterol-independent properties of statins have been discovered. The present review focuses on immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of statins and their implications for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.

[Relationship between blood lipid spectrum and activity of the disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at risk of cardiovascular disorders. Pathogenesis of rapidly developing atherosclerosis in RA remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare cholesterol content in serum lipoprotein subfractions in patients with RA and healthy subjects and to establish relationship between lipid profile variations, severity of the disease, and plasma levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

[Simvastatin effects on the disease activity and cholesterol content in blood serum lipoprotein subfractions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: To study activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cholesterol content in subfractions of blood serum lipoproteins in the course of simvastatin treatment.

Material And Methods: The pilot study enrolled 16 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) meeting ACR criteria. Any standard anti-RA medication in stable doses was supplemented with simvastatin in a dose 40 mg/day for 12 weeks.

Circadian variations in immune values and serum melatonin in asthmatics.

Circadian variations in the immune status and serum melatonin were studied in asthmatics during exacerbation stage before and after treatment. Deviations from the normal (donor) immunogram values at 9.00 and 21.