The effect of atorvastatin treatment for isolated hypercholestrolemia on left ventricular diastolic function

Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular events. Statins have pleiotropic effects beyond reducing the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration. This study sought to determine whether treatment with atorvastatin affects left ventricular diastolic functions in patients with hypercholesterolemia and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF), using echocardiographyStudy Design and Methods: A total of 39 patients with hypercholesterolemia (?160 mg/dl for LDL-C) were randomized to either administration of atorvastatin+low fat diet (n=26) or only low fat diet (n=13) for 3 months. LV systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated by measuring transmitral flow velocity, pulmonary vein flow velocity and the motion velocities of left ventricular walls using pulsed Doppler, tissue velocityResults: During the follow-up period, there was a trend towards decrease in peak systolic motion velocity (p=0.075) and peak E' wave velocity (p=0.053) of the LV posterior wall and statistically significant decrease in peak systolic motion velocity (p=0.046) and peak E' wave velocity (p=0.029) of the LV inferior wall in diet group. There were no significant changes in same regions in the atorvastatin group. In sum of E' peak velocities of LV walls (Global E) there was a trend toward being higher in atorvastatin group (12,8±0.3 v.s 10,9±2,7 p=0.068). Also mean transmitral flow E wave deceleration time decreased in atorvastatin group, respectively (p=0.036).Conclusion: In this study, there were statistically trends toward or significant decrease in some of the regional LV wall motion velocities in diet group, but atorvastatin group not. Future studies that will include more patients and longer follow-up period will provide more definitive results about this matter.Key Words: Statin, diastolic dysfunction, echocardiography