Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the common risk factor of stroke. Oral anticoagulation is used to mitigate stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. However, a significant number of patients cannot be started on oral anticoagulation due to bleeding complications.

A study published in researchsquare.com as a preprint that has yet to be peer-reviewed, reported that incomplete device endothelialization (IDE) is common after LAAC, especially in patients with persistent AF, higher left atrial appendage ostial diameter, and left atrial size. IDE confers an increased risk for device-related thrombus (DRT), but may not necessarily be associated with thromboembolic events and poor clinical outcomes, provided careful monitoring and continued antithrombotic therapy are given.

The study included a total of 101 consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent successful LAAC and received antithrombotic treatment using a standard regimen. They were prospectively followed up to 6 months after the procedure. The status of device endothelialization and device-related thrombus (DRT) were evaluated using cardiac computed tomography (CT). Major adverse cardio-cerebral events (MACCE) including all-cause death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), peripheral vascular embolism, and major bleeding were recorded.

Results of the Study

• IDE was detected in 65 (64.4%) patients. Patients with IDE or complete device endothelialization (CDE) did not significantly differ with respect to baseline clinical characteristics and interventional procedure features.
• Multivariate analysis model revealed that persistent AF, left atrial appendage ostial diameter, and left atrial size were independent risk factors for IDE.
• During the 6-month follow-up, the incidence of DRT was 4.6% in patients with IDE and 2.8% in those with CDE, respectively (p > 0.05), and the overall rate of MACCE was non-significantly higher in the IDE group (7.7% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.32).

Authors concluded that "IDE is common after LAAC, especially in patients with persistent AF, higher left atrial appendage ostial diameter, and left atrial size. IDE confers an increased risk for DRT, but may not necessarily be associated with thromboembolic events and poor clinical outcomes, provided careful monitoring and continued antithrombotic therapy are given."

Reference: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1431243/v1