OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess prospectively changes in serum lipid profile and myocardial perfusion with serial radionuclide single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) during the first six months of pravastatin therapy. BACKGROUND: Morbid coronary events occur despite statin therapy and lipid-lowering in @entity1 with @entity453 ( @entity453 ). A reliable strategy to identify responders with effective treatment from nonresponders on statin therapy before clinical events is needed. METHODS: Rest and stress SPECT MPI and lipids were assessed serially in 25 @entity1 (36% @entity1 ) with @entity453 and @entity2299 during the first six months of pravastatin therapy. RESULTS: Total @entity165 , low-density lipoprotein @entity165 , and @entity1674 declined (26%, 32%, and 30%, respectively) by six weeks and remained reduced at six months. Mean stress perfusion defect (summed stress score [SSS]) was severe (13.3 +/- 6.0) at baseline, showed no change at six weeks, and improved significantly at six months (10.3 +/- 7.3, p < 0.01). The six-month study SSS improved in 11 (48%) @entity1 , was unchanged in 10 (43%) @entity1 , and worsened in 2 (9%) @entity1 . Changes in lipid levels did not reliably predict changes in myocardial perfusion at six weeks or six months in this small pilot study. CONCLUSIONS: Serial SPECT MPI demonstrated improved stress myocardial perfusion in 48% of @entity1 treated for six months with @entity8673 . Time course of improved myocardial perfusion during pravastatin therapy is delayed compared to lipids. Direction and magnitude of changes in the myocardial perfusion vary and do not correlate closely with improvements in lipids.

Prospective serial evaluation of myocardial perfusion and lipids during the first six months of pravastatin therapy: XXXX regression single photon emission computed tomography monitoring trial.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients'] @entity2299 :: ('MESH:D050171', 'Disease') :: ['dyslipidemia'] @entity1674 :: ('MESH:D014280', 'Chemical') :: ['triglycerides'] @entity453 :: ('MESH:D003324', 'Disease') :: ['CAD', 'coronary artery disease'] @entity8673 :: ('MESH:D017035', 'Chemical') :: ['pravastatin'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['cholesterol']
@entity453 :: (MESH:D003324,Disease) :: ['coronary artery disease']
