The effect of atorvastatin on heart function and brain natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein in chronic congestive heart failure

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of atorvastatin on heart function of patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CCHF) and the changes of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP),C-reactive protein (CRP).Methods Seventy-eight patients with CCHF were divided into control group and atorvastatin group by random number table with 39 cases each.Patients in control group were treated with routine treatment such as diuretic,inotropic agents,beta receptor blockers,and atorvastatin group were treated with atorvastatin calcium 20 mg once a day at the base of routine treatment.After treatment for 6 months,the levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd),left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd) and CRP,BNP were detected and compared between two groups.Results After treatment,the level of LVEF was significantly increased and the levels of LVEDd,LVESd were significantly decreased in two groups (P ＜0.05).Moreover,the level of LVEF in atorvastatin group was significantly higher than that in control group [ (46.75 ± 5.82)％ vs.(40.58 ± 4.92 )％ ] (t = 4.016,P ＜0.05),and the levels of LVEDd,LVESd in atorvastatin group were significantly lower than those in control group [ (49.13 ± 4.02) mm vs.(57.62 ± 4.77) mm,(37.76 ± 3.02) mm vs.(41.89 ± 3.53 ) mm] ( t =4.135,4.253,P ＜ 0.05 ).The levels of CRP,BNP after treatment in atorvastatin group [ ( 11.86 ± 4.11 ) mg/L and (247.92 ± 32.78) ng/L] were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment [( 19.62 ±7.93) mg/L and (496.61 ± 78.87) ng/L] (t = 4.668,4.821,P ＜ 0.05 ),and the levels of CRP,BNP were significantly lower than those in control group [ (16.79 ± 6.52) mg/L and (475.41 ± 65.62) ng/L] (t =3.889,4.011,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin can significantly improve heart function in patients with CCHF and reduce the plasma levels of CRP and BNP,which is good for CCHF patients to improve conditions. Key words: Heart failure, congestive; Natriuretic peptide, brain; C-reactive protein; Atorvastatin; Heart function