Assessment of regional systolic and diastolic functions affected by atorvastatin in coronary artery disease using tissue Doppler imaging.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have shown regional left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic changes associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Statins may have beneficial pleiotropic effects in addition to their lipid-lowering properties.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that atorvastatin can improve regional LV systolic and diastolic functions in CAD patients using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).


METHODS
A total of 63 patients with hyperlipemia and CAD were studied. Forty-three patients were given 10 mg daily of atorvastatin and 20 patients were assigned only a low-fat diet. Tissue Doppler imaging was applied to evaluate LV peak systolic velocity (VS), early diastolic velocity (VE), and late diastolic velocity (VA) in 18 segments. The mean value of LV peak systolic velocity (VS(')), the mean value of early diastolic velocity (VE(')), and the mean value of late diastolic velocity (VA(')), in 18 segments were calculated.


RESULTS
Compared with the baseline, VS('), and VE('), increased significantly after the therapy in the atorvastatin group (p < 0.05), while there was no change in the control group (p > 0.05). At 6 mo of therapy, a significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was observed in the 2 groups (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that atorvastatin can improve regional LV systolic and diastolic functions in CAD patients independent of its lipid-lowering properties.
Qie
Liangyi
L
Department of Health Care, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University.
Meng
Xiao
X
Wang
Yubin
Y
Feng
Min
M
Zhong
Ming
M
Li
Li
L
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin