The Use of Statins for Myocardial Death Prevention

The Use of Statins for Myocardial Death Prevention: From Cell to Bedside

The administration of high dose HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (Statins) to patients with acute ST-elevation MI (hypoxia/ischemia) who are treated with primary PCI (reoxygenation/ reperfusion) will protect their cardiomyocytes from death and thus preserve LV ejection fraction.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients suffering from acute ST elevation resulting from myocardial infarction, Killip Classification 1 and 2 will be included at-random to either group. Included subjects should be able to give their informed consent to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The impossibility to give the required informed consent.
2. Known allergy to Atorvastatin.
3. Base line serum creatinine of 1.4 mg/dL.
4. Killip Classification 3 and 4.
5. Persisting vomiting.
6. History of previous liver disease.
7. History of previous muscle disease or rabdomyolisis.
8. Treated already with high dose atorvastatin
9. Non Compliance.