No Benefit of Aspirin or Statins in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Neither reduced thromboxane B₂ levels nor improved lipid profiles had any effect on 6-minute walk distances.

Most therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) target prostacyclin, nitric-oxide, and endothelin-1 levels; however, abnormal platelet activation, oxidative stress, and inflammation also play a role in poor outcomes. Therefore, investigators conducted a randomized, factorial study to determine whether aspirin, simvastatin, or both would improve 6-minute walk distances in patients with PAH.

The trial was designed to include 92 subjects, but it was stopped early after just 65 were enrolled because of futility with regard to achieving the primary endpoint with simvastatin. Overall, 6-month results showed no difference in 6-minute-walk distance between either aspirin and placebo or simvastatin and placebo, despite significant improvemen…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

No Benefit of Aspirin or Statins in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

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Reviewing Author