High-dose atorvastatin is associated with impaired myocardial angiogenesis in response to vascular endothelial growth factor in hypercholesterolemic swine

Atorvastatin treatment reverses hypercholesterolemia-induced endothelial dysfunction without appreciable improvements in collateral-dependent myocardial perfusion in response to vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Increased myocardial endostatin expression and chronic Akt activation, associated with atorvastatin therapy, might account for the lack of improvement in the angiogenic response to vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.