Silent Cerebrovascular Lesion and Cognitive Decline Prevention by Cholesterol Lowering in Elderly AF Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
In elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) the presence of silent brain infarcts and
neurocognitive deficit is high despite adequate treatment with oral anticoagulation.
Atherosclerosis is considered to be a chronic inflammatory disease and thrombosis and
inflammation are strongly correlated. Atrial fibrillation is linked with increased levels of
inflammatory markers and intensive cholesterol lowering has proven to reduce inflammation. In
a prospective double-blind randomized pilot-study we want to test the hypothesis, that
addition of intensive cholesterol lowering treatment besides adequate oral anticoagulation
will reduce cerebrovascular lesions and will be beneficial for neurocognitive status in
elderly AF patients.