[The primary observation on the effect of pravastatin to non-ischemic heart failure].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy and safety of adding pravastatin (Pra) on top of standard therapy in non-ischemic heart failure patients.


METHODS
A total of 61 patients hospitalized in our hospital from Jan 2005 to Jul 2006 were randomly divided into pravastatin group (Pra 20 mg/d on top of standard therapy, n = 30) and control group (standard therapy, n = 31) and followed 6 months. The changes on cardiac function, flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of brachial artery, plasma TNF-alpha level, liver and kidney function were observed.


RESULTS
In Pra treated patients, FMD of brachial artery significantly increased after 3 months treatments and NYHA stage significantly improved, plasma BNP, TNF-alpha levels and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension significantly decreased, LVEF significantly increased significantly 6 months post therapy compared to baseline (all P < 0.01). In control group, the patients' NYHA stage also significantly improved (P < 0.05) and LVEF tended to be higher (P = 0.052) while FMD, plasma BNP and TNF-alpha levels remained unchanged at 6 months post therapy compared to baseline. In Pra group, the level of TC (P < 0.05) and LDL-C (P = 0.051) also significantly decreased while HDL-C remained unchanged 6 months post therapy. One patient in Pra group discontinued the study drug because of anaphylaxis. No event on liver and kidney dysfunction was noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
Pravastatin was effective and safe in treating non-ischemic heart failure patients and can significantly improve left ventricular remodeling, endothelial and cardiac functions as well as reduce the levels of inflammatory factors.
Han
Zhi-hong
ZH
Department of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100029, China.
Wu
Xue-si
XS
Zhang
Xiao-xia
XX
Hu
Rong
R
Zhao
Hua
H
Wang
Chun-mei
CM
Ren
Xue-jun
XJ
Jiang
Teng-yong
TY
Zhang
Wei-dong
WD
Chen
Fang
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D017035:Pravastatin