In the long term heart transplantation provides additional benefit in transplant candidates with uptitrated ACE-inhibitor- and β-blocker-therapy

Abstract

group vs. 446 27 msec in controls, P 0.59). After 3 months, QTc interval decreased in the statin group (436 29 msec, P 0.0003), but not in controls (450 25 msec). QTc interval shortening with statin therapy was more pronounced in patients with a baseline QTc interval 440 msec (from 470 21 msec at baseline to 450 26 msec at 3 months, P 0.0001), and in patients with non-ischemic HF (from 452 32 msec at baseline to 435 28 at 3 months, P 0.004). BNP levels at baseline were comparable in both groups (713 303 pg/ml in statin group vs. 791 271 pg/ml in controls, P 0.25) and remained unchanged after 3 months (695 340 pg/ml vs. 809 331 pg/ml, P 0.13). Conclusions: Statins shorten QTc interval, but do not change BNP levels in advanced HF. Statin therapy may be of particular benefit to patients with non-ischemic HF and a prolonged QTc interval.