The Effect of Eplerenone and Atorvastatin on Markers of Collagen Turnover in Diastolic Heart Failure

To investigate whether the medicines eplerenone or atorvastatin have a favourable effect on diastolic heart failure. Eplerenone is a drug that has been shown to be beneficial in Chronic Heart Failure due to pump failure. It can increase life expectancy and improve symptoms in these patients. It is not known whether or not eplerenone might be beneficial in heart failure with normal pump function (diastolic heart failure). Atorvastatin is one of a group of cholesterol lowering medicines called statins, which have been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease in patients irrespective of whether cholesterol levels are high or normal. It is not known whether atorvastatin also reduces fibrosis of the heart which is one of the causes of diastolic heart failure. Study hypothesis 1. To investigate the impact of aldosterone antagonism or statin therapy on markers of collagen turnover in patients with diastolic heart failure. 2. To assess the impact of aldosterone antagonism or statin therapy on markers of diastolic dysfunction and indices of clinical well being in patients with diastolic heart failure.