Effects of atorvastatin on cardiac function and heart rate variability in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Objective:To observe the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac function and heart rate variability in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Method:Forty-five patients with DCM were divided into two groups patients in, one group (n=23)received atorvastatin 10 mg/d plus routine theraphy, and in the other,(n=22) received routine theraphy only. At the beginning of therapy and 12 weeks later, in addition to, plasma malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level were assayed, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end systolic volume index (LVESVI)were measured by Echo-Doppler, time-and frequency-domain heart rate variability parameters were calculated from 24 h digital holter monitoring.Result:After 12-weeks therapy with atorvastatin, the plasma malondialdehyde, TNF-α, interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels decreased, nitric oxide increased (P 0.01), LVEF increased and LVESVI decreased (P 0.05). Standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals(SDNN) and low frequency power (LFP) increased (P 0.01), △LVEF the increase of LVEF was no relation to that of NO △ nitric oxide (r= 0.27,P 0.05), while with negative correlative to the decrease of △malondialdehyde, △TNF-α, △ interleukin-6 and △matrix metalloproteinase-9 level (r=- 0.40, - 0.46, - 0.48, - 0.43, respectively, P 0.05).The increase of △SDNN was positively (r= 0.57, P 0.01), while negatively correlative to the decrease of △LVESVI (r= - 0.58, P 0.01). Conclusion:Atorvastatin improves cardiac function as well as heart rate variability in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, which may be led by its anti-inflamma-tory and anti-oxidation effect.