title: The Use of Statins in the Treatment and Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation.
abstract: The hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are used extensively in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Statins have also been demonstrated to confer secondary pleiotropic benefits in a variety of other disease processes, including a potential advantage in treating and preventing atrial fibrillation. These effects are primarily due to the up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and a decrease in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase production, which leads to downstream effects that improve the electromechanical function of atrial and myocardial tissue. The following serves as a focused and updated review of the published clinical data regarding the pleiotropic effects of statins in atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: From the *University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL; and †Columbia University Division of Cardiology at the Mount Sinai Heart Institute, Miami Beach, FL.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: Christos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mihos
authors.forename: Maiteder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larrauri-Reyes
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Santana
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011322:Primary Prevention; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors