Table 3.

The effect of simvastatin on sputum cell count and cytokines

Sputum cells	Placebo (n = 21)	Simvastatin (n = 21)	P value	Treatment difference, simvastatin minus placebo (95 % CI)	Effects by order P value
Δ sputum ADA mRNA (fold change) (n = 13)	0.3 ± 1.4	2.8 ± 3.1	0.001	2.8 (1.3 to 4.2)	0.7
Δ sputum ADA (U/L)	−1.5 ± 9.4	22.0 ± 18.4	<0.001	23.3 (15.0 to 31.6)	0.19
Δ sputum osteopontin mRNA (fold change) (n = 13)	1.6 ± 2.5	−0.6 ± 0.3	0.012	−2.4 (−4.1 to −0.6)	0.69
Δ sputum osteopontin (ng/mL)	0.15 ± 0.6	−0.71 ± 0.6	<0.001	−0.85 (− 1.2 to −0.5)	0.92
Δ sputum inosine (nmol)	−0.1 ± 0.1	0.3 ± 0.2	<0.001	0.37 (0.29 to 0.43)	0.054
Δ sputum CD73 mRNA (fold change) (n = 13)	0.7 ± 1.3	−0.2 ± 0.6	0.01	−0.91 (−0.37 to −1.5)	0.99
Δ sputum CD73 (%)	0.58 ± 8.7	−7.5 ± 13.6	0.006	−8.3 (−13.8 to −2.7)	0.92
Δ sputum IL-13 (pg/mL)	−2.0 ± 9.9	−16.9 ± 8.3	<0.001	−15.0 (−20.4 to −9.6)	0.69

Data are presented as mean ± SD

ADA adenosine deaminase, IL interleukin, OPN osteopontin