SUMMARY The use of statins was significantly associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with sinus rhythm .
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Whether statins may prevent  atrial fibrillation  remains a subject of debate .
Atorvastatin Increases the Number of Endothelial Progenitor Cells After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Control Study
Endothelial progenitor cells ( EPCs ) are a subtype of hematopoietic stem cells , which contribute to the repair of injured endothelium . Treatment with atorvastatin has been shown to increase EPC count in patients with coronary artery disease . Therefore , we investigated whether atorvastatin augments the number of EPCs after cardiopulmonary bypass ( CPB ) surgery . We conducted a r and omized double-blind , placebo-controlled , 2-way crossover trial in 50 patients undergoing elective coronary surgery . Patients received either 3-week treatment with atorvastatin or placebo .  EPCs were quantitated by flow cytometric phenotyping on blood sample s. Levels of interleukin , IL-6 and IL-8 ; tumor necrosis factor α ; SDF-1α ; granulocyte colony-stimulating factor ; and vascular endothelial growth factor were determined at recruitment , preoperatively , post-CPB , and 6 , 12 , and 24 hours postoperatively . The atorvastatin group showed a significantly higher amount of EPCs both pre- and postoperatively compared with the placebo , with a > 4-fold increase compared with the baseline values . CPB induced an increase in all cytokines , but the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were significantly lower in the atorvastatin group ( P < 0.05 ) . Statin did not affect levels of SDF-1α , granulocyte colony-stimulating factor , and vascular endothelial growth factor . However , no correlation was found between plasma levels of any cytokine and number of EPCs , with the exception of SDF-1α . Pretreatment with atorvastatin significantly increases the amount of EPCs after CPB , by a mechanism independent of plasma levels of cytokines and cholesterol
SUMMARY The use of statins was significantly associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with sinus rhythm .
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Whether statins may prevent  atrial fibrillation  remains a subject of debate .