Does Atorvastatin Reduce Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Humans in-Vivo?

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) have been found to reduce cardiovascular events. This protective effect has been traditionally explained by lowering plasma cholesterol and subsequent reduced progression of atherosclerosis. However in animal experiments statins have also shown the ability to induce pharmacologic preconditioning and thereby reduce infarct size. This effect contributes to the beneficial effect of statins on reducing of cardiovascular events. In order to differentiate between these two mechanisms of protection we will study the effect of atorvastatin on ischemia reperfusion damage after a short exposure to atorvastatin, before the lipid lowering effect of atorvastatin becomes apparent.