Effect of early atorvastatin therapy on oxLDL in rabbit acute myocardial infarction

AIM To investigate the effects of different doses of atorvastatin on serum levels of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AMI models were established in 24 New Zealand rabbits by coronary-occluded method and were randomized into three groups: control group (n=8) treated without lipid-lowering drugs, 0.5 mg/(kg·d) atorvastatin group (n=8) and 5 mg/(kg·d) atorvastatin group (n=8). Three days before and after the treatment, the plasma levels of oxLDL, lipid, CK-MB and ALT were detected. RESULTS The serum levels of oxLDL significantly lowered after 3 days of therapy in the two atorvastatin groups (P0.05 and P0.01 respectively), especially in the 5 mg/(kg·d) atorvastatin group, while no significant differences was observed in the control group. No changes of lipid levels were observed in the 3 groups before and after treatment and Pearson correlation analysis showed no relation between the decreasing percentage of oxLDL and that of TC or LDL-C. CONCLUSION Early atorvastatin intervention may decrease the serum levels of oxLDL in a dose dependent manner. The anti-oxidant effect of Atorvastatin may be independent of the lipid lowering effect. Early intensive atorvastatin treatment may yield more significant benefits in AMI.