Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Resolution of left atrial appendage thrombus with apixaban
Tohru Kawakami1, Hiroko Kobayakawa, Hiroyoshi Ohno
1From the Division of Cardiology, Ichinomiyanishi Hospital, 1 Kaimei-hira, Ichinomiya, Aichi, Japan. tkawakami-ind@umin.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis is an important cause of cardiogenic cerebral thromboembolism. Apixaban is a member of the class of novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and is superior to warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolism, causes less bleeding, and results in lower mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation. There are few reports of resolution of LAA thrombus with other NOAC. We present a 72-year-old male patient with persistent atrial fibrillation associated with left atrial thrombus. Sixteen days of apixaban treatment showed complete thrombus resolution. In this study, soluble fibrin and D-dimer levels decreased without prolongation of international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

