Data from different observational trials have shown that treatment with statins significantly reduces the incidence of new-onset AF in the primary and secondary prevention .
The data are insufficient to recommend the use of statins before EC .
Finally , perioperative statin therapy may represent an important non-antiarrhythmic adjunctive therapeutic strategy for the prevention of postoperative AF
The aim of the present systematic review is to present an overview of the evidence linking atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , inflammation and oxidative stress , with emphasis on the potential of statins to decrease the incidence of different types of AF , including new-onset AF , after electrical cardioversion ( EC ) and after cardiac surgery .
Observational and clinical trials have studied the impact of statin therapy on new-onset , post-EC or postoperative AF .
Cholesterol reduction rapidly improves endothelial function after acute coronary syndromes. The RECIFE (reduction of cholesterol in ischemia and function of the endothelium) trial.
BACKGROUND Cholesterol lowering reduces coronary events . One mechanism could be improvement of endothelial function . In line with this hypothesis , this study investigates whether cholesterol reduction can result in rapid improvement of endothelial function  after acute coronary syndromes . METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with acute myocardial infa rct ion or unstable angina and total cholesterol levels at admission > /=5.2 mmol/L or LDL > /=3.4 mmol/L were r and omized to placebo ( n=30 ) or pravastatin 40 mg daily ( n=30 ) for 6 weeks . Brachial ultrasound was used to measure endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation ( FMD ) and response to endothelium-independent nitroglycerin . Changes in the levels of markers of platelet activation , coagulation factors , and plasma endothelin levels were also assessed . Total and LDL cholesterol levels were similar at admission and before r and omization in both groups . With pravastatin , but not with placebo , they decreased by 23 % ( P<0.05 ) and 33 % ( P<0.01 ) , respectively . FMD was unchanged with placebo , 5.43+/-0.74 % ( mean+/-SEM ) to 5.84+/-0.81 % , but increased with pravastatin , 4.93+/-0.81 % to 7.0+/-0.79 % ( P=0.02 ) , representing a 42 % relative increase . Responses to nitroglycerin were similar during the time course of the study in the 2 groups . Markers of platelet activity , coagulation factors , and endothelin levels were not affected by pravastatin . CONCLUSIONS Cholesterol reduction with pravastatin initiated early after acute coronary syndromes rapidly improves endothelial function after 6 weeks of therapy
Data from different observational trials have shown that treatment with statins significantly reduces the incidence of new-onset AF in the primary and secondary prevention .
The data are insufficient to recommend the use of statins before EC .
Finally , perioperative statin therapy may represent an important non-antiarrhythmic adjunctive therapeutic strategy for the prevention of postoperative AF
The aim of the present systematic review is to present an overview of the evidence linking atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , inflammation and oxidative stress , with emphasis on the potential of statins to decrease the incidence of different types of AF , including new-onset AF , after electrical cardioversion ( EC ) and after cardiac surgery .
Observational and clinical trials have studied the impact of statin therapy on new-onset , post-EC or postoperative AF .