PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - W-J. Zeng
AU  - C-M. Xiong
AU  - L. Zhao
AU  - G-L. Shan
AU  - Z-H. Liu
AU  - F. Xue
AU  - Q. Gu
AU  - X-H. Ni
AU  - Z-H. Zhao
AU  - X-S. Cheng
AU  - M.R. Wilkins
AU  - J-G. He
AU  - on behalf of the Atorvastatin in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (APATH) Study Group
TI  - Atorvastatin in pulmonary hypertension (apath) study
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00149011
DP  - 2012 Jan 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - erj01490-2011
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2012/02/22/09031936.00149011.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2012/02/22/09031936.00149011.full
AB  - Statins have been shown to both prevent and attenuate pulmonary hypertension in animal models. This study investigates the potential therapeutic benefits of atorvastatin as an affordable treatment for pulmonary hypertension patients.Two hundred and twenty patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) were randomised, double-blind, to receive atrovastatin 10 mg daily or matching placebo in addition to supportive care.At 6 months, 6-minute walk distance decreased by 16.6 m in the atorvastatin group and 14.1 m in the placebo group. The mean placebo-corrected treatment effect was −2.5 m (95% confidence interval: −38 to 33; p=1.0), based on intention to treat. A small non-significant increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and fall in cardiac output was seen in both treatment groups. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients who improved, remained stable or showed a deterioration in WHO functional class between atorvastatin and placebo treatments. Nine patients died in the atorvastatin group and 11 in the placebo group. Serum cholesterol levels fell significantly on atorvastatin treatment. Discontinuation rates were 23.2% and 26.9% on atorvastatin and placebo respectively.Atorvastatin 10 mg daily has no beneficial effect on the natural history of PAH or CTEPH over 6 months.