Open AccessEffects of Atorvastatin on Coronary Flow Reserve in Patients with Slow Coronary Flow
Author(s) -
Caliskan Mustafa,
Erdogan Dogan,
Gullu Hakan,
Topcu Semra,
Ciftci Ozgur,
Yildirir Aylin,
Muderrisoglu Haldun
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.20140
Subject(s) - atorvastatin , medicine , coronary flow reserve , cardiology , timi , coronary circulation , coronary artery disease , microcirculation , diastole , myocardial infarction , blood flow , percutaneous coronary intervention , blood pressure
Background Statins improve endothelial functioning in patients with coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolemia, while substantially little is known about induced changes in myocardial microcirculation. However, although previous studies have suggested that microvascular abnormalities and endothelial dysfunction is responsible for slow coronary flow (SCF), there is no study investigating possible effects of statins on coronary microvascular function in patients with SCF. Hypothesis We prospectively investigated the effects of short‐term lipid‐lowering therapy with atorvastatin on coronary flow reserve (CFR) reflecting coronary microvascular function in patients with SCF assessed by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). Methods In an open clinical trial, CFR was studied in 20 subjects with SCF. TTDE was used to assess CFR at baseline as well as after 8 weeks of atorvastatin therapy. Coronary flow was quantified according to TIMI frame count (TFC). Coronary diastolic peak flow velocities were measured at baseline and after dipyridamole infusion. CFR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline diastolic peak velocities. Results CFR was independently correlated with TFC. After 8 weeks of atorvastatin therapy, CFR values increased significantly (1.95 ± 0.38 vs. 2.54 ± 0.56, (p < 0.001). No change in hemodynamic parameters was noted during the entire study. The improvement in CFR was not correlated to the amount of lipid‐lowering effect of atorvastatin. Conclusions These findings suggest that short‐term lipid‐lowering therapy with atorvastatin improved CFR, which reflects coronary microvascular functioning in patients with SCF. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.