Effect of Statin Therapy on C-reactive Protein Levels in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD)

Effect of Statin Therapy on C-reactive Protein Levels in Patients With COPD

Hypothesis for this pilot study is that simvastatin will lower the levels of CRP and ET-1 in COPD patients.

Patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) have an ongoing systemic inflammation, which can be assessed by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is found to be a strong and independent predictor of future COPD outcomes. Statins are a class of cholesterol lowering drugs that decrease mortality from cardiovascular disease and stroke. In addition, they have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and immunomodulatory properties. Statins lower C-reactive protein by the ability to reduce the production of interleukin (IL)-6, the cytokine that activates the acute phase CRP response.

Thus the rationale for this study is to evaluate effect of statins on the levels of CRP and ET-1 in COPD patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medically optimized COPD patients
• Age 40-79 years.
• serum CRP levels >3mg/l

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current smoker
• COPD exacerbation in the last 2 months.
• Active hepatic or severe renal dysfunction.
• connective tissue disease, chronic inflammatory disease, malignancy, any acute illness, leukocytosis (>10,000 white blood cells) or thrombocytosis (>450,000 platelets).
• Recent h/o myocardial infarction, angina in the last 6 months.
• Pregnancy.