AIM: It is reported that inflammation and hyperlipemia are commonly found in the development of atherosclerosis and disruption of easily damaged plaque. The article is designed to study whether rehabilitation exercise can prevent and delay atherosclerosis by improving blood fat and inflammatory reaction during pathological development. METHODS: (1) Totally 64 patients with atheroschlerosis were enrolled from Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology from July 2006 to April 2007. With their agreement, the patients were randomly assigned to rehabilitation exercise group (n = 34) and blank control group (n = 30). No significant difference was found in sex, age and case history (p > 0.05). (2) They kept their habit in diet and general activities. 2 mL ulnar vein blood was collected from fasting patients before and after the operation, respectively to detect levels of C reactive protein, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). The patients of rehabilitation exercise group mainly referred to ride cycle ergometer or treadmill, so muscle group could receive regularly aerobic metabolism. The exercise was performed 0.5 to 1.0 hour after dinner for 0.5 to 1.0 hour once, with the maximal heart rate of 60% to 90% or heart rate reservation of 50% to 85%. The exercise intensity was monitored by rating of perceived exertion, 6 days per week for 6 weeks. (3) The serum c-reactive protein and blood fat levels were determined before the operation and 6 weeks after rehabilitation exercise. RESULTS: One patient of the blank control group was dropped out, because of being out of touch, and two patients of the rehabilitation exercise group drooped out, because of catarrhal rhinitis and fervescence. Others were involved in the result analysis. (1) LDL-C and TG levels were significantly lower, HDL-C level was higher in the rehabilitation exercise group after intervention as compared with that before experiment (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the blank control group (p > 0.05). (2) C reactive protein in plasma was lower in the rehabilitation exercise group after intervention as compared with that before experiment (p < 0.05), while no significant difference was seen in the blank control group (p > 0.05). (3) The decrease of plasma C reactive protein level was not associated with the decrease of plasma LDL-C level (r = 0.014, p > 0.05), but negatively correlated with the increase of plasma HDL-C level (r = -0.23, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rehabilitation exercise could improve the C reactive protein and blood fat of atherosclerotic and serve as an effective measure to prevent and cure coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

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