[Evidence-based grounds of the efficacy of simvastatin (zocor): 15 years later].

The review describes the history of hypolipidemic therapy with statins. It gives the results of studies of the primary prevention of atherosclerosis and the treatment of hyperlipidemias with lovastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin. Emphasis is laid on trial data on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of simvastatin (zocor).

[Assessment of myocardial viability by dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with ischemic heart disease].

Detection of viable (hibernating) myocardium is necessary for determination of prognosis and tactics of treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease. For detection of viable myocardium and investigation of possibilities of its restoration 60 patients with ischemic heart disease (54 men, mean age 52+/-8 years) were examined before coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary angioplasty. Presence of viable myocardium was characteristic for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (83%) with stenoses >90%, with well developed collateral circulation (81%).