Atorvastatin improves sputum conversion and chest X-ray severity score.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Investigates the safety and efficacy of atorvastatin in combination with standard anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs.
• Focuses on treatment-naïve patients with uncomplicated pulmonary TB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adding atorvastatin to standard TB treatment.
• To assess microbiological and radiological outcomes in TB patients.

Main Methods:

• Phase IIB, multicentre, open-label, randomized study.
• 150 participants assigned to standard care or standard care plus atorvastatin (40 mg daily for 2 months).
• Primary endpoints: safety (severe adverse events) and effectiveness (negative sputum culture); Secondary endpoint: chest X-ray (CXR) severity score.

Main Results:

• Adverse event severity was comparable between groups; muscle pain was more frequent in the atorvastatin group (16% vs. 5%).
• Higher culture-negative rates in the atorvastatin group (97% vs. 85.1%, P=0.02).
• Greater reduction in CXR severity score in the atorvastatin group (37% vs. 22%).

Conclusions:

• Atorvastatin is a safe adjunct therapy for tuberculosis.
• Atorvastatin demonstrates improved microbiological and radiological outcomes in TB patients.
• Supports the use of atorvastatin to enhance standard anti-TB drug regimens.