title: Beneficial effects of statin treatment on coronary microvascular dysfunction and left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statin treatment has been shown to improve coronary endothelial function, irrespective of lipid-lowering effects. This study's aim was to elucidate the effects of statin treatment on coronary microvascular dysfunction and left ventricular remodeling in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients undergoing successful reperfusion following AMI were assigned to a statin-treated (Group S, 16) or a non-statin-treated (Group NS, 19) group, according to fasting serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. (13)N-ammonia positron emission tomography was performed to assess myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in the infarct area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infarct sizes and lipid profiles during the chronic period were similar between the two groups. At 2 weeks after AMI onset, mean MFR in the infarct area was significantly higher in Group S than in Group NS (2.34 ± 0.63 vs. 1.91 ± 0.43, p=0.0214). At 6 months post-AMI, Group S had a smaller left-ventricular end-diastolic volume index (69.4 ± 11.7 mL/m(2) vs. 88.5 ± 32.5 mL/m(2), p=0.0328) and higher left-ventricular ejection fraction (67.7 ± 9.2% vs. 59.2 ± 13.3%, p=0.0394) than Group NS. Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine was significantly increased in Group NS at 1 month post-AMI (0.43 ± 0.12 μmol/L (baseline) vs. 0.52 ± 0.14 μmol/L, p=0.0186), but unchanged in Group S.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statin treatment appears to beneficially attenuate left ventricular remodeling after AMI, which may be associated with restoring coronary endothelial function via endogenous nitric oxide.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Geshi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzui
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitsuke
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okazawa
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Jong-Dae
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors