Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42599596›Full record

SynthesisDaru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences2026

Biological effects of statins in systemic sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 323 patients.

Mostafa A Khalifa, Hamzah M Alghzawi, Shehabeldin S Anan, Ahmad Al Rifai, Ayah A Anwar, Hayder Ali Raheem Al-Saedi, Eman Awady, Islam Masood, Mohamed Elsayed Badr, Mohamed Ismail and 7 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Mostafa A KhalifaFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. mostafakhalifa282@gmail.com.
Hamzah M AlghzawiCollege of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Tennessee State University, Nashville, USA.
Shehabeldin S AnanFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ahmad Al RifaiFaculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Ayah A AnwarFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Hayder Ali Raheem Al-SaediCollege of Health, Medicine and Sciences, Brunel University of London, London, UK.
Eman AwadyFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Islam MasoodFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Mohamed Elsayed BadrFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Mohamed IsmailFaculty of Applied Medical sciences, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
Obada MuayaidFaculty of Medicine, volgograd state medical University, Volgograd, Russian Federation.
Omar M AhmedFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Osama BdarnhFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Sarah AlkhatibFaculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Fares ElnagarFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlyia, Egypt.
Yasser HegaziFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlyia, Egypt.
Mohammad JebrilFaculty of Medicine, volgograd state medical University, Volgograd, Russian Federation.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is driven by persistent inflammation and microvascular damage. Statins are hypothesized to offer vasculoprotective effects beyond lipid-lowering. We systematically evaluated the efficacy and safety of statins in SSc across biochemical, vascular, and patient-centred outcomes.

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of four electronic databases was conducted up to August 2025. Ten studies involving 323 patients were included. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were performed, and study quality was assessed using standardized appraisal tools.

resultsStatin therapy was associated with significant biochemical improvements. Compared with baseline or placebo, CRP decreased by an average of 0.70 mg/L, IL-6 by 5.56 pg/mL, and fibrinogen by 40 mg/dL. Endothelial markers showed similar reductions: 0.85 pg/mL for ET-1, 23.17 IU/dL for vWF, and 25 ng/mL for ICAM-1. Total cholesterol and LDL decreased by mean differences of 0.93 mmol/L and 0.76 mmol/L, respectively, while HDL showed no meaningful change.

conclusionStatins improve inflammatory and endothelial pathways in systemic sclerosis, but these findings should be interpreted cautiously, as clinical benefits remain minimal. Randomized trials are required to further study statins' therapeutic role beyond biochemical modulation.

Indexed as

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsScleroderma, SystemicBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinFibrinogenHumansBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinFibrinogenHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsEndothelial markersRaynaud's phenomenonStatinsSystemic sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID42599596

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.