SAN DIEGO – Although statins failed to improve lung function or exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in several large studies presented at an international conference of the American Thoracic Society, a small caveat appeared in a trial by Dr. Anke Neukamm and her associates.
Rosuvastatin improved endothelial function in a subgroup of patients who had high levels of C-reactive protein before treatment, a prespecified analysis found.
Dr. Neukamm of Akershus University, Lørenskog, Norway, explained what her findings might mean for further research into the role of statins in patients with COPD, if any.
Her study was funded by the Norwegian Extra Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation and by AstraZeneca, which makes a brand-name formulation of rosuvastatin. Dr. Neukamm has been a speaker for AstraZeneca.
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