Atrial fibrillation induced by simvastatin

This paper was published in Heart and Vessels 2003 Jul;18(3):157-9

Study title and authors:
Atrial fibrillation induced by simvastatin treatment in a 61-year-old man.

Akahane T, Mizushige K, Nishio H, Fukui H, Kuriyama S.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12955433

This paper describes the case of a man  who developed atrial fibrillation after starting statin therapy. Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. Symptoms of atrial fibrillation include heart palpitations, fainting, shortness of breath, or chest pain. The disease increases the risk of heart failure, dementia, and stroke

(i) A 61 year old man started simvastatin treatment (5 mg once daily).
(ii) Two weeks later he developed palpitation.
(iii) He visited hospital because the palpitation was persistant for two days.
(iv) An electrocardiogram revealed atrial fibrillation.
(v) Simvastatin was withdrawn and his heart rate returned to normal after three days.
(vi) The patient was followed for 19 months after the withdrawl of simvastatin and has not complained of palpitation while also maintaining a normal heart rhythm.