Aim To investigate the changes of plasma soluble Fas in patients with restenosis in 6 months and effects of atorvastatin on plasma soluble Fas in patients in the early stage after percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods The levels of soluble Fas in plasma of patients were examined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 13 patients with restenosis,in 16 patients without restenosis in 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention,in 20 patients with coronary artery disease,in 20 healthy without stenosis in coronary angiography,and in 20 patients treated with selective percutaneous coronary intervention and with or atorvastatin in prior percutaneous coronary intervention,6 h,24 h,3 d and 7 d after percutaneous coronary intervention. Results The levels of soluble Fas in patients with restenosis 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention were significantly higher than those patients without restenosis,those patients with coronary artery disease and those patients without stenosis in coronary angiography(469±126 vs 132±30,123±23,43±9 ng/L,respectively,all p<0.01).The levels of soluble Fas were also significantly higher in patients without restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention and in patients with coronary artery disease than those patients without stenosis in coronary angiography(all p<0.01).The levels of soluble Fas were rapidly increased in patients 6h after selective percutaneous coronary intervention,reached its peak after 3 d,and remained very high after 7 d. The levels of soluble Fas were significantly decreased in patients 3 d and 7 d after treatment with atorvastatin than those patients without atorvastatin(from 2 036±422 to 1 157±268 ng/L,and 1 460±266 to 798±111 ng/L,respectively,all p<0.01). Conclusions The levels of soluble Fas were significantly higher in patients with restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention than those patients without restenosis.Persist increment of soluble Fas may act as the predictors of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.The levels of soluble Fas significantly decreased after treatment of atorvastatin,which may be one of mechanisms of statins preventing restenosis that.