Efficacy of Simvastatin for the Treatment of COPD

Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Statins for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

To evaluate in patients with stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) the efficacy of statins (simvastatin) on: (1) endothelial function; (2) systemic inflammation; (3)BODE (B: body mass , O: bronchial obstruction, D: dyspnea and, E: exercise tolerance) index; (4) Uric acid; and, (5)vascular growth factors. Design: a 12 weeks randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo control study. Population: 18 males with stable COPD between 40-80 years of age, exsmokers, with Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) between 30 and 80% predicted post-bronchodilation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stable COPD between 40-80 years of age, exsmokers, with FEV1 lower that 80% predicted post-bronchodilation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe co-morbidity (advanced-stage cancer, tuberculosis affecting more than a third of the total lung parenchyma, pneumonectomy, pneumoconiosis, left cardiac failure previously reported, known cardiopathy with ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 45%) or any cardiovascular disease, Diabetes Mellitus treated with insulin, Hypercholesterolemia, Chronic inflammatory diseases (asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lung fibrosis, autoimmune diseases), Treatment with systemic steroid, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or stains within 3 months prior to inclusion.