title: Statin Induced Regression of Cardiomyopathy Trial: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Double-blind Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), characterized by a thickened, fibrotic myocardium, remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young adults. Based on animal and clinical data, we hypothesized that atorvastatin would induce left ventricular (LV) mass regression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statin Induced Regression of Cardiomyopathy Trial (SIRCAT) was a randomized, placebo-controlled study. The primary endpoint was change in LV mass measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging 12 months after treatment with once-daily atorvastatin 80 mg or placebo. A key secondary endpoint was diastolic dysfunction measured echocardiographically by transmitral flow velocities. SIRCAT is registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00317967).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 222 screened patients, 22 were randomized evenly to atorvastatin and placebo. The mean age was 47 ± 10 years, and 15 (68%) were male. All subjects completed the protocol. At baseline, LV masses were 197 ± 76 g and 205 ± 82 g in the placebo and atorvastatin groups, respectively. After 12 months treatment, the LV masses in the placebo and atorvastatin groups were 196 ± 80 versus 206 ± 92 g (P= 0.80), respectively. Echocardiographic indices were not different in the two groups at baseline. After 12 months, diastolic dysfunction as assessed using transmitral flow velocities E/E', A/A', and peak systolic mitral velocity showed no benefit from atorvastatin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with HCM, atorvastatin did not cause LV mass regression or improvements in LV diastolic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, King Saud University Medical City, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hersi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Giannoccaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Exner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eitel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: R Cameron
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mcrae
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institue of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sheldon
keywords: Atorvastatin; clinical trial; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; regression; statin