Do statins have an antiarrhythmic activity?
Sudden cardiac death, which is mainly associated with the presence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, is a common 'killer' among patients with coronary artery disease. Moreover, atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia encountered in the clinical practice. The beneficial effect of statins on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is well-established, while the exact role of this class of drugs against arrhythmias remains unclear. This review discusses the effect of statin treatment on arrhythmias that are commonly seen in the clinical setting. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are also overviewed. Compelling evidence from the majority of the studies reviewed shows that statins exhibit a protective effect against the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation.
Kostapanos
M S
MS
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece.
Liberopoulos
E N
EN
Goudevenos
J A
JA
Mikhailidis
D P
DP
Elisaf
M S
MS
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors