The primary observation on the effect of pravastatin to non-ischemic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and safety of adding pravastatin (Pra) on top of standard therapy in non-ischemic heart failure patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 61 patients hospitalized in our hospital from Jan 2005 to Jul 2006 were randomly divided into pravastatin group (Pra 20 mg/d on top of standard therapy, n = 30) and control group (standard therapy, n = 31) and followed 6 months. The changes on cardiac function, flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of brachial artery, plasma TNF-alpha level, liver and kidney function were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Pra treated patients, FMD of brachial artery significantly increased after 3 months treatments and NYHA stage significantly improved, plasma BNP, TNF-alpha levels and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension significantly decreased, LVEF significantly increased significantly 6 months post therapy compared to baseline (all P < 0.01). In control group, the patients' NYHA stage also significantly improved (P < 0.05) and LVEF tended to be higher (P = 0.052) while FMD, plasma BNP and TNF-alpha levels remained unchanged at 6 months post therapy compared to baseline. In Pra group, the level of TC (P < 0.05) and LDL-C (P = 0.051) also significantly decreased while HDL-C remained unchanged 6 months post therapy. One patient in Pra group discontinued the study drug because of anaphylaxis. No event on liver and kidney dysfunction was noticed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pravastatin was effective and safe in treating non-ischemic heart failure patients and can significantly improve left ventricular remodeling, endothelial and cardiac functions as well as reduce the levels of inflammatory factors.</p>