Effect of Chronic Statin and Viagra Therapy in Persons With Endothelial Cell Dysfunction

The Effect of Chronic Statin Therapy on Peripheral Arterial Tone Response to Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra), and on Erectile Function in Men With Coronary Artery Endothelial Cell Dysfunction

To determine if 6 weeks of daily treatment with Atorvastatin 40 mg alters the immediate effect of Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra, Pfizer Inc, New York, NY) on endothelial function (activity of the artery) as measured by noninvasive peripheral arterial tonography in men and women. Also, to determine if 6 weeks of daily treatment with Atorvastatin 40 mg affects erectile function in men

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing coronary angiography
• No previous statin use
• Age > 18 years old
• No PDE5-1 use in the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with an Acute Coronary Syndrome
• Patients with Cardiogenic shock
• Patients > 30% coronary stenosis
• Patients with unexplained muscle pain
• Patients with acute liver disease
• Patients receiving immunosuppressant therapy, azoles, macrolide antibiotics, niacin, L-arginine
• Patients with serum creatinine > 2.0
• Patients with total cholesterol > 200 mmol/l
• Patients on current statin therapy or clinically indicated to be on statin therapy