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 .
Effects of simvastatin on systemic inflammatory responses after cardiopulmonary bypass.
AIM Cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with a complex systemic inflammatory response and the extent of their increase has been correlated with the development of postoperative complications . Recent studies suggest that treatment with statins is associated with a significant and marked decrease in inflammation-associated variables such as cytokines . Therefore , we investigated the effects of preoperative simvastatin treatment on systemic inflammatory response and perioperative morbidity after cardiopulmonary bypass . METHODS A prospect i ve , r and omized study , was design ed . Forty-four subjects undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were r and omized to treatment with  simvastatin ( 20 mg/day , group A , N. 22 ) or control ( group B , N. 22 ) before surgery . Plasma levels of interleukins ( IL-6 , IL-8 , TNF-alpha ) , and systemic inflammatory response score ( SIRS ) were measured during the surgical intervention and over the following 48 postoperative hours . Cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked assays from plasma sample s obtained at specific time points pre- and post-operation . RESULTS In both groups the serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines ( IL-6 , IL-8 , TNF-alpha ) , and leukocytes , and the SIRS score increased significantly over the baseline , though no significant differences were observed between the two groups . The preoperative and postoperative course did not differ between both groups . CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass , the administration of simvastatin doses not produce any changes in the inflammatory response as measured by the levels of IL-6 , IL-8 , TNF-alpha and SIRS score , nor does it reduce the complications after cardiac surgery
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 .