ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of statin therapy in patients with heart failure secondary to inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy and moderately elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Seventy-four patients were randomized to receive atorvastatin 40 mg/day or conventional treatment for heart failure. After 6 months of therapy, the predefined primary efficacy end point (an increase of >5% in the absolute left ventricular ejection fraction and > or =2 selected criteria by echocardiography and a decrease in New York Heart Association functional class) was significant in the statin-treated patients (p = 0.004). Among secondary efficacy parameters, the quality-of-life index showed a trend suggesting the benefit of statin therapy (p = 0.055). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that treatment with atorvastatin in addition to standard therapy for heart failure may significantly improve clinical outcomes in this cohort of patients.
