The Use of Statins Following a Left Atrial Catheter Ablation Procedure to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation

Summary

To investigate whether statin therapy utilizing the drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) might be effective in preventing short-and long-term atrial fibrillation (AF) following a left atrial ablation procedure. We further hypothesize this reduction will result from diminished peri-procedural inflammation, which will be reflected in lower C-Reactive Protein (CRP) values in the blood.

Timeline

Start

2007-12

Primary completion

2011-12

Completion

2011-12

Publications

• Background Aviles RJ, Martin DO, Apperson-Hansen C, Houghtaling PL, Rautaharju P, Kronmal RA, Tracy RP, Van Wagoner DR, Psaty BM, Lauer MS, Chung MK. Inflammation as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2003 Dec 16;108(24):3006-10. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000103131.70301.4F. Epub 2003 Nov 17.
• Background Malouf JF, Kanagala R, Al Atawi FO, Rosales AG, Davison DE, Murali NS, Tsang TS, Chandrasekaran K, Ammash NM, Friedman PA, Somers VK. High sensitivity C-reactive protein: a novel predictor for recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful cardioversion. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 Oct 4;46(7):1284-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.06.053.
• Background Patti G, Chello M, Candura D, Pasceri V, D'Ambrosio A, Covino E, Di Sciascio G. Randomized trial of atorvastatin for reduction of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: results of the ARMYDA-3 (Atorvastatin for Reduction of MYocardial Dysrhythmia After cardiac surgery) study. Circulation. 2006 Oct 3;114(14):1455-61. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.621763. Epub 2006 Sep 25.
• Background Bonetti PO, Pumper GM, Higano ST, Holmes DR Jr, Kuvin JT, Lerman A. Noninvasive identification of patients with early coronary atherosclerosis by assessment of digital reactive hyperemia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004 Dec 7;44(11):2137-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2004.08.062.
• Results Suleiman M, Koestler C, Lerman A, Lopez-Jimenez F, Herges R, Hodge D, Bradley D, Cha YM, Brady PA, Munger TM, Asirvatham SJ, Packer DL, Friedman PA. Atorvastatin for prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence following pulmonary vein isolation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Heart Rhythm. 2012 Feb;9(2):172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2011.09.016. Epub 2011 Sep 13.

Drugs

Indications