Anabolic Medications for Muscle Wasting in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Is the Evidence Getting Stronger?

The use of testosterone or testosterone analogs cannot be recommended for patients with COPD with normal testosterone levels because of limited evidence of efficacy and significant adverse effects, including prostatic hypertrophy or accelerating growth of cancer foci in men and virilization in women (2). A larger, more definitive trial is warranted based on the fact that bimagrumab has an anabolic effect with minimal adverse effects, but future studies should be performed in combination with pulmonary rehabilitation in a patient population with muscle wasting and weakness. Body mass, fat-free body mass, and prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from a random population sample: findings from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Midthigh muscle cross-sectional area is a better predictor of mortality than body mass index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.