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 .
Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atria reduces inducibility and duration of atrial fibrillation in dogs.
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to prevent induction of sustained atrial fibrillation ( AF ) by radiofrequency catheter ablation ( RFCA ) of the atria in an open-chest canine model . METHODS AND RESULTS In dogs r and omized to acute studies , RFCA of the atria was performed after reproducible induction of sustained AF ( lasting > 30 minutes ) with burst stimulation or premature atrial pacing and perpetuation by low level cervical vagal stimulation or IV infusion of methacholine . Additionally , in four dogs , the long-term effectiveness of RFCA was assessed 7 to 21 days after ablation . Continuous discrete transmural lesions were produced with radiofrequency energy pulses ( 20 to 40 W for 60 seconds ) delivered to five atrial epicardial sites and endovascularly to the coronary sinus wall . RFCA electrically isolated regions of the atria that became dissociated from the nonisolated parts . Atrial RFCA markedly attenuated vagally induced shortening of effective refractory period ( ERP ) at both isolated and nonisolated test sites located in the left and right atria ( P < .001 , n = 5 ) . RFCA rendered noninducible sustained AF maintained by cervical vagal stimulation . The dose-response curve relating the dose of methacholine required to maintain AF was shifted down and to the right . AF was only inducible with high doses of methacholine . Atrial RFCA reduced the maximal sinus rate and prolonged the corrected sinus-node recovery time ( P < .001 , n = 6 ) . However , RFCA did not affect atrial contractile function , AV-nodal ERP , or AV-nodal or His-Purkinje conduction times . In dogs in the chronic group , normal sinus rhythm and normal AV conduction were preserved and AF was only inducible with a high dose of methacholine . No atrial perforations result ed . CONCLUSIONS RFCA in open-chest dogs produces partial vagal denervation and reduces the inducibility of AF
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 .