Abstract: Objective To study the influence of high dose atorvastatin (80 mg) on early heart rate variability and malignant ventricular arrhythmia in patients underwent emergency PCI. Methods 350 cases underwent emergency PCI from January 2010 to January 2013 were randomly divided into two groups: high dose atorvastatin group (175 cases) and regular dose atorvastatin group (175 cases); and 85 cases of control were enrolled randomly(control group). The patients of high dose atorvastatin group received atorvastatin 80 mg orally instantly after hospitalization and 40 mg once a day from the second day; The patients of regular dose atorvastatin group received atorvastatin 40mg orally instantly after hospitalization and 20 mg once a day from the second day. The patients received continuous dynamic electrocardiogram detection for 24 hours after PCI and according to the dynamic electrocardiogram outcomes , the early heart rate variability and malignant ventricular arrhythmia were measured and compared between groups. Results (1) Compared with the normal control group, the heart rate variability was significantly reduced, the incidence rate of malignant ventricular arrhythmia was much higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction(P<0.01). (2) Compared with the regular dose atorvastatin group, the heart rate variability was significantly increased(P<0.05), the incidence rate of malignant ventricular arrhythmia was much lower in high dose atorvastatin group after emergency PCI (P=0.03). Conclusion The heart rate variability was significantly reduced and the incidence rate of malignant ventricular arrhythmia was much higher in patients with early acute myocardial infarction; high dose atorvastatin can increase the heart rate variability and decrease the incidence rate of malignant ventricular arrhythmia in patients underwent emergency PCI.

Key words: Statins, myocardial infarction, PCI, heart rate variability, malignant ventricular arrhythmia