TY - JOUR T1 - Pleiotropic effects of add-on atorvastatin therapy during the treatment of COPD patients JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - 3428 AU - Robert Mroz AU - Agnieszka Tycinska AU - Lukasz Minarowski AU - Joanna Bierla AU - Pawel Lisowski AU - Bozena Sobkowicz AU - Elzbieta Chyczewska AU - Wlodzimierz Musial AU - William MacNee Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/3428.abstract N2 - The potential role of statins in treating COPD is controversial and it is unclear what anatomic COPD lesions statins affect. We have performed a prospective study to compare Atorvastatin 40mg once daily for three months in thirteen COPD patients (8 ex-smokers (ExSm) and 5 current smokers (CurrSm)). Transbronchial lung biopsy was carried out at baseline and after treatment. Twelve subjects, 11 males and 1 female, mean age 64,58 (min 56, max 78) completed the study and 48 paired biopsies were available for analysis. Lung function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests, SGRQ, 6MW test, and Holter EKG monitoring were performed, and serum lipids and hs-CRP were measured. Lung biopsy specimens were processed for histology, immunohistochemistry with anti CD45, CD11b, P-selectin, ETAR, and ET-1 antibodies. 8-isoprostane levels and differential cell count were measured in induced sputum.Results: Symptoms significantly improved. There was no significant change in FEV1, but IC improved (In CurrSm: from 55,54% predicted (%) to 64,4%, p<0.01, in ExSm: from 81,93% to 89,9%, p<0.05, before and after therapy, respectively). TGV decreased from 119,92% to 113,69%, p<0.05, and RV/TLC improved in ExSm: from 44,01% to 40,07%, p<0.05 before and after therapy, respectively). In lung biopsies there were significant decreases in inflammatory cells numbers, CD45+ cells decreased in CurrSm: from 64,12% to 30.40%, p<0.05 and in ExSm: from 61,40% to 18,94%, p<0.05 before and after treatment, respectively. The expression of CD11b, P-selectin, ETAR, and ET-1 were also decreased after therapy. These data indicate that atorvastatin may have potential beneficial effects in COPD patients through an anti-inflammatory mechanism. ER -