Acute effect of atorvastatin on coronary circulation measured by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in patients without coronary artery disease by angiography

Thirty-two patients were randomly assigned to treatment with placebo or atorvastatin. The time-averaged peak diastolic velocity (APDV) of the left anterior descending artery without stenosis was measured by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography at rest and under hyperemic conditions before and 1 hour after treatment. APDV increased significantly in the atorvastatin group, at rest and under hyperemic conditions, and coronary flow velocity reserve also increased in the atorvastatin group compared with patients given placebo. Atorvastatin improved the blood flow velocity of the normal coronary artery < 1 hour after administration in patients without coronary artery disease by angiography. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.