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Updated: May 22, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Recent clinical trials in atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients
Athanasios J Manolis1, Manolis S Kallistratos, Leonidas E Poulimenos
1Department of Cardiology, Asklepeion General Hospital, 1, Vassileos Pavlou St, Voula, Athens, 16673, Greece. ajmanol@otenet.gr
Insights
Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm disorder, increases stroke risk. Management involves antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, and risk stratification scores like CHADS2 and HAS-BLED for optimal antithrombotic therapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia.
- Hypertension (HTN) is the most common cardiovascular disorder.
- AF significantly elevates stroke risk, both symptomatic and silent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of antihypertensive regimens in AF prevention.
- To discuss the efficacy and safety of novel antiarrhythmic drugs.
- To highlight stroke and bleeding risk assessment in AF management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent publications on AF management.
- Analysis of data on antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic therapies.
- Evaluation of stroke risk stratification scores (CHADS2, HAS-BLED) and anticoagulants.
Main Results:
- Antihypertensive treatments show promise in AF prevention.
- Novel antiarrhythmics like dronedarone and vernakalant offer new therapeutic options.
- Risk scores effectively guide antithrombotic therapy, balancing efficacy and hemorrhagic risk.
Conclusions:
- Current research supports antihypertensives and novel antiarrhythmics in AF management.
- Risk stratification tools are crucial for personalized antithrombotic strategies.
- Emerging anticoagulants require further investigation for long-term safety and efficacy.
Abstract:
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically significant sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and Hypertension (HTN) is the most common cardiovascular disorder. AF is a major risk factor for strokes whether it is symptomatic or silent. Recent publications have shed light on the role of antihypertensive regiments in prevention of AF, while others have provided data on the efficacy and safety of novel antiarrhythmic drugs such as dronedarone and vernakalant. The older CHADS(2) score and its more refined modern counterparts are well validated to determine stroke risk and guide antithrombotic therapy, but haemorrhagic risk has to be respected as well, and scores such as HAS-BLED should be widely used. Novel classes of anticoagulants that overcome many of the drawbacks of warfarin have been introduced with promising results and pose new questions that need to be answered in the near future.
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