title: The influence of atorvastatin on parameters of inflammation left ventricular function, hospitalizations and mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy--5-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed the influence of atorvastatin on selected indicators of an inflammatory condition, left ventricular function, hospitalizations and mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 68 DCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% treated optimally in a prospective, randomized study. They were observed for 5 years. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who were commenced on atorvastatin 40 mg daily for two months followed by an individually matched dose of 10 or 20 mg/day (group A), and patients who were treated according to current recommendations without statin therapy (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 5-year follow-up we assessed 45 patients of mean age 59 ± 11 years - 22 patients in group A (77% male) and 23 patients in group B (82% male). Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and uric acid concentrations were significantly lower in the statin group than in group B (14.96 ± 4.76 vs. 19.02 ± 3.94 pg/ml, p = 0.012; 19.10 ± 6.39 vs. 27.53 ± 7.39 pg/ml, p = 0.001, and 5.28 ± 0.48 vs. 6.53 ± 0.46 mg/dl, p = 0.001, respectively). In patients on statin therapy a reduction of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration (from 1425.28 ± 1264.48 to 1098.01 ± 1483.86 pg/ml, p = 0.045), decrease in left ventricular diastolic (from 7.15 ± 0.90 to 6.67 ± 0.88 cm, p = 0.001) and systolic diameters (from 5.87 ± 0.92 to 5.17 ± 0.97, p = 0.001) in comparison to initial values were observed. We also showed the significant increase of LVEF in patients after statin therapy (from 32.0 ± 6.4 to 38.8 ± 8.8%, p = 0.016). Based on a comparison of curves using the log-rank test, the probability of survival to 5 years was significantly higher in patients receiving statins (p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atorvastatin in a small dose significantly reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines and uric acid, improve hemodynamic parameters and improve 5-year survival in patients with DCM.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielecka-Dabrowa
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Manfredi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von Haehling
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rysz
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D014527:Uric Acid; D000069059:Atorvastatin