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

Although pharmacologic therapy is the traditional mainstay of therapy for AF, curative therapy has recently become possible.

There is growing evidence that inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of AF. CRP, a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation, is increased in patients with AF compared with patients in sinus rhythm. Elevated CRP levels are associated with increased likelihood of new onset AF and with recurrence of AF after successful cardioversion. Clinical and basic laboratory evidence suggests that, in addition to being potent lipid-lowering agents, statins may also have anti-inflammatory properties and protective effect against AF.

125 eligible patients with AF, undergoing left atrial ablation, will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive daily 80 mg of atorvastatin or placebo in a double-blind fashion for 3 months after their ablation procedure.

Patients will have baseline lipids, CRP, endothelial function tests and Quality of Life (QoL) surveys compared with testing at 3 months post ablation.

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Arrhythmia
• Inflammation
• Endothelial Dysfunction

• Drug: Atorvastatin
  80 mg tablet taken by mouth daily for 90 days
  Other Name: Lipitor
• Drug: Placebo
  Placebo tablet taken by mouth once daily for 90 days
  Other Name: Placebo (dummy) tablet to match appearance of atorvastatin

• Active Comparator: Atorvastatin
  Lipitor (atorvastatin) 80 mg tablet taken once daily by mouth for 90 days
  Intervention: Drug: Atorvastatin
• Placebo Comparator: Placebo
  Placebo (dummy) tablet taken once daily by mouth for 90 days
  Intervention: Drug: Placebo

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Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients > or = to 18 years of age
• Clinically indicated left atrial ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known malignancy
• Known inflammatory disease
• Surgery or trauma or myocardial infarction in the previous month
• Known contraindication to statin therapy
• Elevated liver enzymes above two times the upper limit of normal
• Patients already receiving therapy with any statin, niacin or fibrates at the time of their randomization