Treatment with simvastatin and amiodarone in patients with paroxyswal atrial fibrillation

AIM: To evaluate the curative effect and mechanism of simvastation and amiodarone in the treatment of patients with paroxyswal atrial fibrillation (PAF). METHODS: One hundred and eighteen patients with PAF were randomly distributed into control group (n=59) treated with oral administration of amiodarone alone and trial group (n=59) treated with combined oral administration of amiodarone and simvastatin. Changes of the sinus rhythm sustaining rate and the level of c-reactive protein (CRP) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) before and after the treatment were investigated in the two-year follow-up. RESULTS: The recurrence rate of PAF in the control and the trial groups was 18.6% vs 10.1% after 12 months and 40.6% vs 18.6% after 24 months. The recurrence rate of the trial group decreased more significantly than that of the control group and the level of CRP and ICAM-1 also significantly decreased in the trial group. CONCLUSION: The combined administration of simvastatin and amiodarone reduces the recurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, which may be related to the anti-inflammatory action.