RODEO, a new study presented at the  2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference by Anky Neukamm, MD, of Akershus University Hospital in Norway, studied the effects on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and other measures of lung function in COPD patients after a 12-week treatment regimen with rosuvastatin. During the presentation of the RODEO trial, several references were made to previous observational studies and more formal studies by members of their group. Several studies indicated the beneficial use of statins in patients with COPD. However, no randomized control trials evaluated the effect of statins on vascular and pulmonary function in COPD patients previously. 

The RODEO trial was recently conducted by Neukamm’s group in Norway, testing the hypothesis that statin therapy has an association with improvement in endothelial and pulmonary functions, and can reduce systemic inflammation in patients with COPD.

Systemic inflammation in COPD patients is highly associated with periods of exacerbation by the increase in circulating C-reactive protein (CRP). In addition, impaired endothelial function has been associated with COPD patients as well. Strains’ qualities, depending on their lipid lowering properties, are independent of their pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects.

One of the principal points of the study was the use of the EndoPAT system to assess a change in vasodilator function measured by peripheral arterial tonometry. This is expressed as the reactive hyperemia ratio (RHI). A subgroup of patients with a pre-specified elevated hsCRP values higher than 1.7 mg/L at baseline showed a significant improvement in RHI when treated with rosuvastatin versus placebo patients.

Another point was assessed through a randomized total of 99 patients, assessed by FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio and changes in the interleukin markers (IL6) and hsCRP. After 5 withdrawals, the final result of the study was measured among 47 patients per evaluated group with a mean age of 65 and confirmed by a 48% of women.

Lipid levels decreased in the rosuvastatin group as was expected. However, there was no significant differences in endothelial or pulmonary functions. During the presentation, Neukamm said that compared to the placebo,  rosuvastatin therapy was associated with a reduction in hsCRP and an attenuated rise in IL6, suggesting a reduction in systemic inflammation.