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Haemorheological profile in subjects with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
1Istituto di Clinica Medica e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy.
Insights
This study investigated blood flow properties in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). While AF patients showed altered haemorheological profiles, no significant differences were found between those with and without left atrial spontaneous echocontrast (SEC).
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Haemorheology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to increased thromboembolic risk.
- Left atrial spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) is a marker of blood stasis in AF.
- Haemorheological factors may influence thrombotic events in AF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate haemorheological determinants in nonvalvular AF patients.
- To compare haemorheological profiles between AF patients with and without SEC.
- To understand the role of blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation in AF.
Main Methods:
- Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were used to assess AF and SEC.
- Haemorheological parameters including whole-blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, serum viscosity, whole-blood filtration (VBC), and mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA) were measured.
- Subjects were divided into groups based on the presence or absence of SEC.
Main Results:
- Subjects with nonvalvular AF exhibited an impaired haemorheological profile.
- The haemorheological impairment appeared more pronounced in AF patients with SEC.
- No statistically significant haemorheological differences were detected between AF patients with and without SEC.
Conclusions:
- Nonvalvular AF is associated with altered haemorheology.
- While SEC may indicate a more evident impairment, significant differences in measured haemorheological parameters were not found between AF patients with and without SEC.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering haemorheological status in AF management due to associated thromboembolic risks.
Abstract:
In a group of subjects (n = 35) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) subdivided according to the presence (n = 16) or absence (n = 19) of left atrial spontaneous echocontrast (SEC), demonstrated using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, we evaluated the principal haemorheological determinants: whole-blood viscosity, plasma and serum viscosity, haematocrit, whole-blood filtration (VBC) and mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA). From the obtained data it was evident that in subjects with nonvalvular AF there was an impairment of the haemorheological profile that seemed more evident in AF subjects with SEC, although no significant haemorheological difference was present between AF subjects with and without SEC. These findings need to be underlined considering that this clinical condition is associated to a major thromboembolic risk.