TNF and ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Furthermore, pre-hospital statin administration in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients has been associated with reduced levels of proinflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, TNF-α) and MMP-9 during hospitalization [20], and a loading dose of atorvastatin administered before percutaneous coronary intervention has been shown to decrease plasma MMP-9 levels and myocardial dysfunction in STEMI patients [21].