title: Varenicline for smoking cessation intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking cessation was previously demonstrated to reduce lung function decline and disease morbidity if it resulted in a sustained tobacco abstinence. Varenicline is a newer pharmacologic therapeutic agent able to reduce withdrawal symptoms in smokers, and this makes it particularly valuable in inducing abstinence in patients with significant addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper discusses the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of a smoking cessation intervention including varenicline in patients with COPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varenicline can be an appropriate aid to maintaining smoking abstinence in patients with COPD and heavier nicotine addiction, and the documentation of the long-term effects of a smoking cessation intervention that includes this pharmacologic therapeutic agent is necessary.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Gr.T.Popa Iasi, Pulmonary Disease University Hospital, Department of Medicine II-Pulmonary Disease, 30 Dr I Cihac Str, 700115 Iasi, Romania. sabina.antonela.antoniu@pneum.umfiasi.ro
authors.forename: Sabina A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antoniu
authors.forename: Antigona Carmen
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Trofor