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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Antithrombotic therapy for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary
Andrew Krasner1, Jonathan L Halperin
1The Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Insights
Patients with atrial fibrillation needing anticoagulation benefit from warfarin. Combining warfarin with dual antiplatelet therapy increases bleeding risk, prompting research into alternative strategies for stroke prevention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation patients with thromboembolism risk benefit from oral anticoagulation.
- Dual antiplatelet therapy is crucial after drug-eluting stent placement.
- Combining warfarin with dual antiplatelet therapy significantly elevates bleeding risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges and evolving strategies in managing anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
- To explore the implications of novel oral anticoagulants and P2Y12 inhibitors in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent clinical trials and pharmacological data.
- Analysis of treatment regimens for patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease.
Main Results:
- Omitting aspirin in dual therapy regimens has shown promising results in reducing bleeding.
- Novel oral anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) and potent antiplatelet agents (prasugrel, ticagrelor) add complexity to treatment decisions.
Conclusions:
- Managing anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention is complex.
- Future research is needed to identify safer and more effective antithrombotic strategies for this high-risk group.
Abstract:
Patients with atrial fibrillation who have risk factors for thromboembolism benefit from chronic oral anticoagulation therapy, and antiplatelet therapy alone is of relatively little benefit for prevention of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents require dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a thienopyridine for 3 to 12 months or more prevention of stent thrombosis and recurrent ischemic events. When patients with atrial fibrillation undergo percutaneous coronary intervention, the need to combine dual antiplatelet therapy and warfarin raises the risk of major bleeding complications considerably. Recent trials have explored the option of omitting aspirin with promising results. The introduction of novel oral anticoagulants that specifically inhibit factor IIa (dabigatran) or factor Xa (rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban) and antiplatelet agents that inhibit the P(2)Y(12) receptor (prasugrel and ticagrelor) makes management of these patients even more challenging, but future trials addressing myriad alternative regimens may identify better tolerated strategies.
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