title: Effects of atorvastatin loading prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention on endothelial function and inflammatory factors in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of statin loading prior to elective and early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in which the 'pleiotropic effects' of statins may contribute to these clinical benefits. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential effects of atorvastatin loading prior to primary PCI on coronary endothelial function and inflammatory factors in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A total of 60 patients with STEMI were randomized into three groups: Loading dose (80 mg atorvastatin prior to PCI; n=20), regular dose (20 mg atorvastatin prior to PCI; n=20) and control (without atorvastatin prior to PCI; n=20). The plasma samples were collected prior to, and immediately, 6 and 24 h after PCI in all the patients. The plasma concentrations of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were examined using ELISA. The plasma eNOS levels immediately and 24 h after PCI were significantly higher in the regular dose group compared with the other groups. However, there were no significant differences in the plasma eNOS concentration prior to and 6 h after PCI, or in the plasma NO concentration at any of the time-points among the three groups. The plasma IL-6 levels prior to PCI were significantly lower in the loading dose group compared with the other groups; however, there were no significant differences in the plasma concentration of IL-6 following PCI or in the concentrations of TNF-α and ICAM-1 at any of the time-points among the three groups. In conclusion, atorvastatin loading in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI may not have protective effects on endothelial function and the inflammatory reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides, Ministry of Health and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides, Ministry of Health and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides, Ministry of Health and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides, Ministry of Health and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongzhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides, Ministry of Health and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cui
keywords: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; atorvastatin; endothelial function; inflammatory reaction; primary percutaneous coronary intervention