Beneficial effects of statins in patients with non-ischemic heart failure

Objective HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) may exert a wide array of cholesterol-independent effects including antihypertrophic effects on the heart. Their role in the treatment of heart failure has not been studied. Methods and results 15 patients with heart failure NYHA II-III based on non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy were randomized in a double-blind study to 0.4 mg cerivastatin or placebo for an average treatment period of 20 weeks. Quality of life and exercise capacity increased significantly in the statin treatment but not in the placebo group (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, 6 min walking test). Concomitantly, there was a trend towards increased left ventricular ejection fraction (radionuclear ventriculography) and improved endothelial function (forearm blood flow). Statins decreased plasma concentrations of troponine T, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Conclusions Statins induce benefical effects in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy leading to improvement of quality of life and exercise capacity disclosing a promising novel treatment strategy for patients with heart failure.