Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease Cardiomyopathy Heart Disease Myocardial Disease Myocardial Ischemia
Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease Cardiomyopathy Heart Disease Myocardial Disease Myocardial Ischemia
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 9
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to see if taking a cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium)will increase the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC's) circulating in the blood of heart failure patients taking this cholesterol-lowering drug, and if this will also show an improvement in the damaged areas of the patient's hearts as documented by MRI scans.

Detailed description:
This study involves the testing of blood for cholesterol levels and flow cytometry tests to count the number of EPC's in your blood. These tests are routinely performed to gain knowledge about a person's health. If any incidental findings are identified as a result of your participation in this research study, you will be notified and referred to your doctor or appropriate health care professional.

You are being asked to provide a blood sample that will be used to determine the usual numbers of EPC's circulating in the blood of healthy people who have no risk factors for heart disease. Your results will be compared with those of patients who have heart failure.

Flow cytometry is a special laboratory test that can count, separate, and detect characteristics of cells in blood. Your blood sample will be analyzed using flow cytometry. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC's) are immature cells that are necessary for new blood vessel formation. EPC's will be separated by flow cytometry and counted. You will not be given the results of your flow cytometry study.

Arms:
arm 1: Patients with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy receiving Lipitor (Atorvastatin calcium). arm 2: NonIschemic Cardiomyopathy receiving Lipitor (Atorvastatin calcium) treatment arm 3: Healthy subjects with no history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or heart attacks

Interventions: intervention 1: Atorvastatin Calcium
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Atorvastatin Calcium starting at a 10 mg dose and may be increased up to 40 mg dose until cholesterol is lowered to an acceptable range. Blood will drawn every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks to check the cholesterol level and adjust medication dosage. Cardiac MRI will be performed at the beginning and at the end of the 6 month study to measure the physical changes of the heart.

Protocol document: