Assessment of regional systolic and diastolic functions affected by atorvastatin in coronary artery disease using tissue Doppler imaging

Abstract

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.

Hypothesis: 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.