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 Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (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.