Usefulness of atorvastatin in patients with heart failure due to inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy and elevated cholesterol levels.
This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of statin therapy in patients with heart failure secondary to inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy and moderately elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Seventy-four patients were randomized to receive atorvastatin 40 mg/day or conventional treatment for heart failure. After 6 months of therapy, the predefined primary efficacy end point (an increase of >5% in the absolute left ventricular ejection fraction and > or =2 selected criteria by echocardiography and a decrease in New York Heart Association functional class) was significant in the statin-treated patients (p = 0.004). Among secondary efficacy parameters, the quality-of-life index showed a trend suggesting the benefit of statin therapy (p = 0.055). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that treatment with atorvastatin in addition to standard therapy for heart failure may significantly improve clinical outcomes in this cohort of patients.
Wojnicz
Romuald
R
3rd Department of Cardiology, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland. wojnicz@dom.zab
Wilczek
Krzysztof
K
Nowalany-Kozielska
Ewa
E
Szyguła-Jurkiewicz
Bozena
B
Nowak
Jolanta
J
Poloński
Lech
L
Dyrbuś
Krzysztof
K
Badziński
Arkadiusz
A
Mercik
Gabriela
G
Zembala
Marian
M
Wodniecki
Jan
J
Rozek
Marius M
MM
D000328:Adult; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin