title: [Study on the effect and mechanism of puerarin on the size of infarction in patients with acute myocardial infarction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of puerarin on infarction size, fatty acids metabolism, inflammatory response and atherosclerotic plaque stability in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients with AMI were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n = 30) and the treated group (n = 31). All were treated with conventional treatment, but to the treated group, puerarin injection was given additionally by injecting 500 mg per day for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, blood levels of free fatty acids (FFA), matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assayed, and the size of infarction was determined by Ideker QRS scoring method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment, the size of infarction was positively correlated to the levels of FFA, MMP-9 and CRP (r = 0.43, 0.42 and 0.39, respectively, all P<0.01). As compared with those before treatment, after treatment, the three parameters lowered by 30%, 41% and 23%, respectively and the size of infarction significantly reduced in the treated group (P<0.01), while in the control group, no significant change was found (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Puerarin treatment could significantly reduce the size of infarction in patients with AMI, the mechanism is possibly related with its effects in lowering plasma levels of FFA, inhibiting inflammation and stabilizing atherosclerotic plaque.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yuebei People's Hospital, Shaoguan, Guangdong (512026). 142250@haoyisheng.com.cn
authors.forename: Li-zhong
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shao-chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhaoyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zen
authors.forename: Birong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007529:Isoflavones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C033607:puerarin