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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
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Mechanisms of Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

Jose Maria Castellano1, Jason Chinitz2, Jonathan Willner2

  • 1The Mount Sinai Medical Center, Cardiovascular Institute, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1030, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA; National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), Melchor Fernandez Almagro 3, Madrid 28029, Spain.

Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics
|April 12, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, significantly increases stroke risk due to complex mechanisms. This review covers stroke causes, risk assessment, and prevention strategies for affected patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Thrombosis

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia.
  • It carries a high risk of stroke and thromboembolism.
  • Thrombogenicity in atrial fibrillation involves reduced left atrial flow, vascular wall changes, and altered blood components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying stroke in atrial fibrillation.
  • To discuss current risk stratification tools for identifying high-risk patients.
  • To outline available therapeutic strategies for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pathophysiological mechanisms.
  • Analysis of existing risk stratification tools.
  • Summary of current evidence-based therapies.

Main Results:

  • Multiple factors contribute to stroke risk in atrial fibrillation.
  • Various tools exist for assessing individual patient risk.
  • Effective preventive therapies are available.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding atrial fibrillation's thrombogenic mechanisms is crucial.
  • Risk stratification guides appropriate preventive interventions.
  • Timely and targeted therapies can significantly reduce stroke incidence.

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationCardiac arrhythmiaStrokeThromboembolism

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