Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2012 Sep;4(5):290-294. 10.4168/aair.2012.4.5.290.

Evaluation of Atorvastatin for the Treatment of Patients With Asthma: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

• Moini A
• Azimi G
• Farivar A

• KMID: 2167048
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.5.290

Abstract

PURPOSE
Statins are known as cholesterol-lowering agents, but have been suggested for the treatment of asthma because of their anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the potential therapeutic effects of atorvastatin were investigated in asthmatic patients.
METHODS
A total of 62 patients with persistent mild to moderate asthma who presented at asthma clinics of Arak University of Medical Sciences were recruited in a double-blind randomized clinical trial. The asthma clinical control score was assessed based on the standardized Asthma Control Test. Lung volume, i.e., percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC%), and peripheral blood eosinophils were also measured. The intervention group was treated with atorvastatin 40 mg per day for 8 weeks, while the control group received a placebo. Asthma controller treatments were not changed. At the beginning and end of the study, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured to evaluate adherence of the patients to the treatment.
RESULTS
The asthma control score did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups (P=0.06). Difference in FEV1%, FVC%, and blood eosinophil count between the intervention and control groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The differences in post-treatment cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significant (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that atorvastatin is not effective in the treatment of persistent mild to moderate asthma.

Keyword

Asthma; statins; atorvastatin; Asthma Control Test

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Cholesterol
Eosinophils
Forced Expiratory Volume
Heptanoic Acids
Humans
Lipoproteins
Lung
Pyrroles
Vital Capacity
Atorvastatin Calcium
Cholesterol
Heptanoic Acids
Lipoproteins
Pyrroles

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow diagram of patient participation in the study.

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  Fig. 2 Mean total cholesterol after 8 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin (intervention) or placebo (control) (P>0.05).

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  Fig. 3 Mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) after 8 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin (intervention) or placebo (control) (P>0.05).

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