This study was published in the European Respiratory Journal 2009 Aug;34(2):513-4
Study title and authors:
Statins in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a word of caution.
El-Chemaly S, Taveira-DaSilva A, Stylianou MP, Moss J.
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19648526
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare progressive cystic lung disease.
FEV1% (forced expiratory volume) is the volume of air exhaled during the first second. So the lower the measurement - the lower the lung function. FEV1% predicted is defined as FEV1% of the patient divided by the average FEV1% in the population for any person of similar age, sex and body composition.
DL,CO% (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) is the extent to which oxygen passes from the air sacs of the lungs into the blood. The lower the measurement - the less oxygen there is - the lower the lung function. DL,CO% predicted is defined as DL,CO% of the patient divided by the average DL,CO% in the population for any person of similar age, sex and body composition.
This three year study evaluated the effects of statins on lung function in 335 patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
The study found:
(a) Those taking statins had a 1.9% yearly decline in FEV1% predicted levels compared to those not taking statins.
(b) Those taking statins had a 3.7% yearly decline in DL,CO% predicted levels compared to those not taking statins.
This study shows that statins worsen lung function in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
