Purpose : Potent antineoplastic agent, doxorububicin can make cardiomyopathy by producing free radical oxygen. 3-hydroxy-3-methlyglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, statin) is known to have antioxidant effect as well as lipid lowering effect. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether pretreatment with statin can prevent doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy using 2-D echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Methods and results: Thirty male rats (302.5짹13.3g) were assigned to three groups. Group I (n=10); administration of doxorubicin, Group II (n=10); Rosuvastatin (2mg/kg/day) + doxorubicin, Group III (n=10); Rosuvastatin (10mg/kg/day) + doxorubicin. Doxorubicin was intraperitoneally administered every other day (1.25mg/kg��16 times, a total of 20mg/kg) and rosuvastatin was administered with gastric gavage every day. At 4th weeks, doxorubicin and rosuvastatin were discontinued. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and 8th week and cardiac catheterization was performed after the last echocardiography. At 8th week, left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) increased and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased in each groups compared with the baseline values. However, LVEDV and LVEF were not different between groups at 8th week. Although dP/dtmax was not different between groups, dP/dtmin in group II were significantly higher than group I or III. (Table) Conclusions : Doxorubicin induced significant dilatation and functional impairment in the rat left ventricles. There was no significant benefit with rosuvastatin pretreatment in preventing LV dilatation or systolic dysfunction in doxorubin treated rat hearts. However, pretreatment group with low dose rosuvastatin had better LV diastolic function than doxorubicin only group.