Atorvastatin as novel treatment in bronchiectasis patients colonized with pseudomonas aeruginosa

Introduction: Long term antibiotics and chest physiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment in bronchiectasis. There has been a drive for novel non antibiotic therapy. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess if 3 month statin therapy could reduce cough and inflammation in bronchiectasis patients chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: 32 patients with severe bronchiectasis were recruited in this double blind cross over randomised control trial. 16 patients were either prescribed Atorvastatin 80mg or placebo for 3months. This was followed by a 6week washout period and the groups then crossed over for another 3months of treatment. Results: 27 patients completed the study. Statin treatment led to no improvement in cough. Statin treatment, however, led to a significant reduction in serum interleukin 8 (p=0.02), tumor necrosis factor alpha (p=0.009), ICAM-1 (p=0.01) and improvement in quality of life (p=0.01). There was no improvement in the placebo group. Headaches were the main cause of dropouts (100%). (Figure presented) Conclusion: Atorvastatin reduced serum inflammation, improved quality of life but did not improve cough, when administered for 3months in patients with bronchiectasis chronically infected with Ps. aeruginosa.