Post- Myocardial Infarction Arterial Wall Improvement by Low-dose Fluvastatin and Valsartan

Improving Arterial Wall Characteristics in Patients After Myocardial Infarction With a Very Low Dose of Fluvastatin and Valsartan: Proof-of-concept Study

The concept of improving arterial wall characteristics by treatment with a very low-dose combination of fluvastatin and valsartan (low-flu/val) in stable, post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients was tested. The parameters of endothelial function (flow mediated dilatation (FMD), reactive hyperemia index) and arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), local carotid PWV and β-stiffness coefficient) were measured before and after 30 days of treatment, and the residual effect was assessed 10 weeks later. So the investigators explored whether low-flu/val added "on-top-of" optimal therapy could improve endothelial function and arterial stiffness in post-MI patients. Since these improved parameters are well-known predictors of future coronary events, such treatment could decrease cardiovascular risk.

Inclusion Criteria:

• history of MI in the last 0.5 to 5 years
• males
• aged under 55 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• diabetes mellitus
• manifest peripheral artery disease or carotid artery disease
• acute infection
• chronic diseases
• present therapy with fluvastatin and/or valsartan.