Correlation of Left Atrial Appendage Ejection Velocities with the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc Scores

Treatment of Persistent Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation on Adequate Oral Anticoagulation: Pathways of Care for All-comers and Heart Failure Patients

In patients with AF, the presence of left atrial/left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus is related to an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Anticoagulation therapy, either with vitamin K antagonists or novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) is therefore mandatory in AF with LA/LAA thrombus in order to lower the risk of stroke or other systemic embolic events. Despite the efficacy of these treatments, some patients will have persistent LAA thrombus remaining or may have contraindications to oral anticoagulation. Currently, little is known about the occurrence, risk factors and resolution rate of LA/LAA thrombus in patients who are already under optimal chronic oral anticoagulation, including vitamin K antagonists or NOACs. The common action in clinical practice in this scenario is switching from one to another anticoagulant drug exhibiting a different mechanism of action. Repeated cardiac imaging is then advised within several weeks to visually verify thrombus dissolution. Finally, there is a substantial scarcity of data on the role and optimal use of NOACs after LAA occlusion. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate data and provide up-to-date information on the best antithrombotic strategies in this challenging clinical scenario.

Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast occurring in patients with low CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc scores

Background

Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), although scarce information exists on LASEC occurring in nonvalvular AF patients who have low thromboembolic risk scores. We therefore examined prevalence and determinants of LASEC under low CHADS₂ or CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores in these patients.

Methods

Among 713 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, 349 with a CHADS₂ score < 2 (CHADS₂ group) (93 women, mean age 65 years) and 221 with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score < 2 (CHA₂DS₂-VASc group) (39 women, mean age 62 years) were separately examined for clinical and echocardiographic findings.

Results

LASEC was found in 77 patients of CHADS₂ group (22%) and in 41 of CHA₂DS₂-VASc group (19%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for several parameters including non-paroxysmal AF, LA enlargement (LA diameter ≥ 50 mm), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (BNP ≥200 pg/mL) revealed that for CHADS₂ group, non-paroxysmal AF (Odds ratio 5.65, 95%CI 3.08–10.5, P < 0.001), BNP elevation (Odds ratio 3.42, 95%CI 1.29–9.06, P = 0.013), and LV hypertrophy (Odds ratio 2.26, 95%CI 1.19–4.28, P = 0.013) were significant independent determinants of LASEC, and that for CHA₂DS₂-VASc group, non-paroxysmal AF (Odds ratio 3.38, 95%CI 1.51–7.54, P = 0.003) and LV hypertrophy (Odds ratio 2.53, 95%CI 1.13–5.70, P = 0.025) were significant independent determinants of LASEC.

Conclusions

LASEC was present in a considerable proportion of patients with nonvalvular AF under low thromboembolic risk scores. Information on AF chronicity, BNP, and LV hypertrophy might help identify patients at risk for thromboembolism, although large-scale studies are necessary to confirm our observations.