title: Treatment of COPD: moving beyond the lungs.
abstract: We still do not know whether the successful treatment of the comorbid diseases associated with COPD, mainly cardiovascular disease, also positively influences the course of the lung disease because so far there are few definite data documenting that treatment of COPD comorbidities will reduce morbidity and mortality rates in these patients. Observational studies suggest that COPD patients treated with statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers, and β-adrenoceptor blockers may have improved survival and reduced hospitalisation from exacerbations. Progress in basic and translational research has led to a better understanding of pharmacological mechanisms that may explain the effects of these drugs on COPD and some small clinical trial activity is beginning to generate promising results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. mariagabriella.matera@unina2.it
authors.forename: M Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: Luigino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calzetta
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors