Effects of short-term treatment of hyperlipidemia on coronary vasodilator function and myocardial perfusion in regions having substantial impairment of baseline dilator reverse

We tested the hypothesis that correction of hyperlipidemia improves coronary vasodilator response and maximal perfusion in myocardial regions having substantial impairment of pretreatment vasodilator capacity. Measurements of myocardial blood flow were made with PET [13N]ammonia in 12 patients with ischemic heart disease (11 men; age, 65+/-8 years [mean+/-SD]) at rest and during adenosine at 70 and then 140 microg . kg-1 . min-1 for 5 minutes each before and approximately 4 months after simvastatin treatment (40 mg daily). Simvastatin reduced LDL (171+/-13 before versus 99+/-18 mg/dL after simvastatin, P