Effect of rosuvastatin on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients combined with pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the influence and safety of rosuvastatin on nitric oxide(NO),Endothelin-1(ET-1),pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP) and right ventricular function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (COPD) combined with pulmonary hypertension(PH).Methods Eighty COPD patients combined with PH were enrolled and divided into the statin group(n =40) and the control group(n =40).All patients were given conventional therapy,while the statin group received rosuvastatin 10 mg/d,the control group did not receive any lipid-lowering drugs.The plasma levels of NO and ET-1,echocardiography indicators of PASP and right ventricular Tei index,liver and kidney functions and creatine kinase(CK) were measured and compared before and after 6-month treatment.Results The level of NO was significantly higher after 6-month treatment than before treatment in the two groups (P ＜ 0.01),but the statin group increased even more significantly (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of ET-1,PASP and Tei index were significantly lower after 6-month treatment than before treatment in the two groups (P ＜ 0.01),but the statin group reduced even more significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Statistical differences of liver and kidney function and serum CK were not found in the two groups before and after treatment (P ＞ 0.05).The adverse reaction in the statin group was few.Conclusions Rosuvastatin can increase the level of NO,reduce the levels of ET-1,PASP and Tei index,make right ventricular function better in COPD patients combined with PH,and its security is good. Key words: Rosuvastatin; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Pulmonary hypertension; Nitric oxide; Endothelin-1; Pulmonary artery systolic pressure; Tei index