Atorvastatin therapy is associated with reduced levels of N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide and improved cardiac function in patients with heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Statins have been suggested to improve cardiac function, but the evidence underlying beneficial effects of statins in heart failure (HF) is insufficient. We analyzed plasma N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and cardiac function in patients with HF of various etiologies, and who were treated with or without statins.


OBJECTIVE
Statin treatment is associated with improved cardiac function in HF.


METHODS
The study cohort consisted of 139 consecutive male patients receiving atorvastatin (n = 44), simvastatin (n = 29), pravastatin (n = 19), or no statin (n = 47). The NT-proBNP levels were measured using electroluminescence immunoassay. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), fractional shortening (FS), and ejection fraction (EF) were determined by echocardiography.


RESULTS
Patients receiving atorvastatin presented with reduced NT-proBNP levels (1,552 +/- 3,416 versus 3,771 +/- 6,763 pg/mL; p < 0.01), and improved values of LVEDD (65.2 +/- 8.9 versus 70.7 +/- 10.9 mm; p < 0.05) and EF (33.2 +/- 12.6 versus 28.2 +/- 9.6%; p < 0.05). By contrast, plasma NT-proBNP and cardiac parameters in patients treated with statins other than atorvastatin did not significantly differ from control. Atorvastatin treatment was equally effective in patients with ischemic and nonischemic HF.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin treatment is associated with improved cardiac function in HF, and may represent an additional option for patients with this disease.
Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Leibniz-Institute for Arteriosclerosis Research, University of Munster, Muster, Germany.
Jörg
J
Stypmann
Aurelien
A
Schubert
Henryk
H
Welp
Helmut
H
Schulte
Gerd
G
Assmann
Günter
G
Breithardt
Jerzy-Roch
JR
Nofer
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D004452:Echocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011758:Pyrroles; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000069059:Atorvastatin