Abstract
Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin in patients with chronic bronchitis due to sulfur mustard gas inhalation. Methods: In this randomized double-blinded clinical trial we enrolled patients with chronic bronchitis due to sulfur mustard gas inhalation. Ninety man aged between 45 to 75 years with diagnosed of chronic bronchitis due to exposure to mustard gas during the Iran-Iraq war, were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin (40 mg) or placebo, given orally once a day for 3 months. The interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), procalcitonin, highly sensitive CRP, and COPD assessment test (CAT) score in both groups compared with each other and baseline data. Results: After 12 weeks of using atorvastatin (n=40), the level IL-6 decreased significantly (p=0.03) without any significant differences in the level of TNF-α, high sensitive CRP, and procalcitonin (P=0.31, p=0.78, and p=0.08). In placebo group (n=38), both procalcitonin and IL-6 significantly decreased after 12 weeks (P=0.002 and p<0.001), but levels of high sensitive CRP did not differ significantly and the level of TNF-α increased (p=0.006). The mean differences in levels of TNF- α, IL-6, high sensitive CRP, and procalcitonin did not differ statistically significant between the study groups after 12 weeks. Although after 12 weeks of study in both groups the CAT score have had appreciably high magnitude decrease (P<0.001), but its mean differences change wasn't significant between group (P=0.71). Conclusions: Administration of 40 mg atorvastatin for 3 months although could not significantly change systemic inflammatory markers or quality of life in mustard gas induced chronic bronchitis.Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT138904144312N1. Registered 16 August 2014, https://en.irct.ir/trial/4577
The Effect of Atrovastatin on Inflammatory Markers in Sulfur Mustard Gas Induced Bronchitis; A Randomized Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
