OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the expression of cytokine. METHODS Cardiac hypertrophy was produced by abdominal aortic banding (AB). Treatment with atorvastatin or saline was implemented 1 week before the operation and continued 4 weeks after the operation Myocardial cytokine expression was analyzed by both RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The ratio of heart to body weight and cardiac cytokine expression were markedly enhanced in AB rats The treatment of AB rats with atorvastatin significantly reduced myocardial cytokine interleukin-1β(IL-1β),Cardiotropin-1(CT-1) mRNA and protein expression ,and inhibited the increases of the heart to body weight radio, left ventricular wall thickness,cardiac myocyte diameter.The suppression of cardiac hypertrophy by atorvastatin treatment was accompanied by the decreased expression of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) which was a molecular marker for cardiac hypertrophy. CONCLUSION Atorvastatin may regulate cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the expression of cytokines in the heart.