scholarly journals Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Is Associated with the Risk of Thrombus in the Left Atrial Appendage in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Uziębło-Życzkowska ◽  
Paweł Krzesiński ◽  
Agnieszka Jurek ◽  
Agnieszka Kapłon-Cieślicka ◽  
Iwona Gorczyca ◽  
...  

Introduction. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of ischemic stroke. The most frequent thrombus location in AF is the left atrial appendage (LAA). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a basic diagnostic examination in patients (pts) with AF. Objectives. To analyse the relations between basic echocardiographic features, well-established stroke risk factors, type of AF, and anticoagulation therapy with the incidence of left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT). Patients and Methods. The study group consisted of 768 pts with AF (mean age, 63 years), admitted to three high-reference cardiology departments. Five hundred and twenty-three pts were treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and 227 (30%) with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The subjects underwent TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before cardioversion or ablation. Results. LAAT was significantly more frequent in pts with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): in 10.6% (7 pts) with LVEF<40% and in 9.0% (9 pts) with LVEF 40-49%, while only in 5.5% (33 pts) with LVEF>50%. Compared to pts without LAAT, those with LAAT presented with lower LVEF and higher left atrial diameter (LAD). Multivariate logistic regression revealed the following variables as independent predictors of LAAT: previous bleeding, treatment with VKA, and LVEF. Conclusion. LAAT is related to lower LVEF and higher LAD. LVEF is one of the independent predictors of LAAT. Even in the case of adequate anticoagulant therapy, it might be prudent to consider TEE before cardioversion or ablation in patients with low LVEF and LA enlargement, especially in the coexistence of other thromboembolic risk factors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2110564
Author(s):  
Michele Russo ◽  
Annachiara Nuzzo ◽  
Matteo Foschi ◽  
Simona Boarin ◽  
Stefano Lorenzetti ◽  
...  

Friedreich ataxia is the most common form of hereditary ataxia. Heart involvement in Friedreich ataxia is common and can include increased left ventricular wall thickness, atrial fibrillation, and in the later stages, a reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction. We present the case of a 45-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ⩾ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, and female sex (CHA2DS2-VASc) score of only 1 (because of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction) who presented with pneumonia and was also found to have atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. Despite already being on long-term therapy with a non-vitamin K-antagonist oral anticoagulant, a transesophageal echocardiogram showed a mobile floating thrombus in the left atrial appendage. In accordance with previous necropsy evidence of thrombosis and thromboembolism in Friedreich ataxia subjects who likely have had only non-sex-related CHA2DS2-VASc score ⩽1, this case suggests that the risk of thromboembolism in Friedreich ataxia subjects with atrial fibrillation may not be adequately predicted by the sole CHA2DS2-VASc score.


2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 26-29
Author(s):  
N. E. Grigoriadi ◽  
L. M. Vasilets ◽  
A. V. Tuev ◽  
E. A. Ratanova ◽  
O. V. Khlynova ◽  
...  

Aim. To study the parameters of the structural and functional state of the myocardium in patients with hypertension, to determine their prognostic value on the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and methods: the study involved 72 people: patients with hypertension and AF, with isolated hypertension and apparently healthy individuals. All of them performed echocardiography, blood pressure monitoring and monitoring of cardiogram. Results: the dilatation of left atrial was founded: patients with the atrial fibrillation on the background of hypertension observed the most pronounced changes in the left atrial. In patients with hypertension without arrhythmias and in combination with atrial fibrillation severe left ventricular hypertrophy was observed. Left ventricle systolic function in groups has been stored but in patients with atrial fibrillation on the background of hypertension was significantly lower. The risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension prognostic value are the only values of the age, the volume index of the left atrial to the body surface area and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions. The risk of AF in hypertension occurs over the age of 55 and each subsequent year increases it in 1,2 times,  it increases with an index value of the left atrial to the body surface over 29 ml/m2 and with a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction less than 58%. 


Medicina ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Naydenov ◽  
Nikolay Runev ◽  
Emil Manov ◽  
Daniela Vasileva ◽  
Yavor Rangelov ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, demographics, co-morbidities and treatment of AF among in-hospital Bulgarian patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study including 1027 consecutive patients (n = 516, 50.2% males) with a mean age of 67.6 ± 11.3 years, hospitalized for any reason from 1 May until 31 December 2016 in one of the largest internal clinics in Bulgaria, was carried out. Results: Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in 634 (61.7%) patients. The prevalence of modifiable AF risk factors was as follows: heart failure, 98.9%; arterial hypertension (HTN), 93.5%; valvular heart disease, 40.9%; chronic lung disease, 26.7%; type 2 diabetes mellitus, 24.9%; thyroid disease, 16.9%; and ischemic heart disease, 11.2%. Univariate logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors with strongest impact on AF: left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (odds ratio (OR) = 1.951, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.208–3.151), valvular heart disease (OR = 1.926, 95% CI 1.134–3.862), left ventricular ejection fraction 40–49% (OR = 1.743, 95% CI 1.248–3.017), HTN (OR = 1.653, 95% CI 1.092–3.458). History of ischemic stroke was present in 14.4% of the patients with AF. Oral antithrombotic drugs were prescribed to 85.7%: direct oral anticoagulants to 37.9%, vitamin K antagonists to 43.2%, and antiplatelets to 4.6%. Heart rate control medications and antiarrhythmics were prescribed to 75.4% and 40.2%, respectively. Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation was highly prevalent among our study population. Reduced and mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction, valvular heart disease, and HTN were the risk factors with the strongest association with AF. Although a large number of our AF patients were administered antithrombotic treatment, the prescription rate of oral anticoagulants should be further improved.


2020 ◽  
Vol 109 (11) ◽  
pp. 1333-1341
Author(s):  
Christian Fastner ◽  
Johannes Brachmann ◽  
Thorsten Lewalter ◽  
Uwe Zeymer ◽  
Horst Sievert ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Interventional left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) effectively prevents thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation patients. Impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increases not only the thromboembolic risk but also the complication rates of cardiac interventions. The LAAC procedure’s benefit in patients with an impaired LVEF, therefore, has yet to be investigated. Methods LAARGE is a prospective, non-randomized registry depicting the clinical reality of LAAC in Germany. Procedure was conducted with different standard commercial devices, and follow-up period was one year. In the sense of an as-treated analysis, patients with started procedure and documented LVEF were selected from the whole database. Results 619 patients from 37 centers were categorized into one of three groups: LVEF > 55% (56%), 36–55% (36%), and ≤ 35% (8%). Prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity increased with LVEF reduction (p < 0.001 for trend). CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3, 4.8, and 5.1 (p < 0.001), and HAS-BLED score was 3.7, 4.1, and 4.2 (p < 0.001). Implantation success was consistently high (97.9%), rates of intra-hospital MACCE (0.5%), and other major complications (4.2%) were low (each p = NS). Kaplan–Meier estimation showed a decrease in survival free of stroke with LVEF reduction during one-year follow-up (89.3 vs. 87.0 vs. 79.8%; p = 0.067), a trend which was no longer evident after adjustment for relevant confounding factors. Rates of non-fatal strokes (0.4 vs. 1.1 vs. 0%) and severe bleedings (0.7 vs. 0.0 vs. 3.1%) were consistently low across all groups (each p = NS). Conclusions LVEF reduction neither influenced the procedural success nor the effectiveness and safety of stroke prevention by LAAC. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02230748 Graphic abstract


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier Luigi Stefano ◽  
Marco Bugetti ◽  
Guido Del Monaco ◽  
Gloria Popescu ◽  
Paolo Pieragnoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Body mass index (BMI), age, left atrium (LA) dimensions and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have been linked to post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery. The aim was to better define the role of these risk factors. Methods: This study evaluated 249 patients (without prior atrial dysrhythmia) undergoing cardiac or aortic surgery . Prior to surgery the following data were collected: age (yrs), BMI (kg/m2), LA diameter (cm), LA area (cm2), LVEF (%), the presence of arterial hypertension (AH) and of diabetes, tyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, mU/L) and, creatinine (mg/dL). Results: Patients with (n. 127, 51%) and without POAF (n. 122, 49%) were compared. No difference was observed for sex, LA diameter, LA area, LVEF, TSH and diabetes. Instead, patients with PoAF had higher values of age, BMI, creatinine and a greater prevalence of AH and Bentall procedures. Multivariable analysis showed that the only independent predictors of PoAF were: age (OR = 1,05, CI 95% 1,025-1,076, p= 0,0001) and BMI (OR=1,095, CI 95% 1,015-1,182, p= 0,019). Conclusions: Results suggest that advanced age and a higher value of BMI are strong risk factors for POAF in patients without previous AF. This even in the presence of comparable LA dimensions and LVEF.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohamed Hassan ◽  
Hazem Mohamed Abdel Menaem ◽  
Ahmed Mohamed Onsy ◽  
Azza Alaa Omran ◽  
Mona Mostafa Mohamed Rayan

Abstract Background The most common etiology of stroke is known to be cardio- embolic type and left atrial appendage is the site of origin of thrombi in 90% of cardio embolic stroke .Most literature reports that left atrial appendage thrombi tend to be more common in females and black people1. In the past, the left atrial appendage (LAA) has been considered to be a relatively insignificant portion of cardiac anatomy. It is now recognized that it is a structure with important pathological associations as thrombus has a predilection to form within the LAA in patients with non-valvar atrial fibrillation and to a lesser extent in those with mitral valve disease (both in atrial fibrillation and in sinus rhythm). The exact pathogenesis of thrombus formation inside left atrial appendage is still not fully elucidated, but many literature suppose that the cause is the stagnation within the long, blind-ended trabeculaed pouch2 Objective to describe left atrial appendage morphology and identify the prevalence of its different subtypes in Egyptian patients. Material and Methods the study analyzed retrospectively the data of 100 consecutive Egyptian patients who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) at Ain shams university specialized hospital from August 2019 to February 2020.Axial source images, two and threedimensional data sets were evaluated for each of the patients .All images were analyzed by a qualified cardiologist using dedicated software called “Horos Workstation”, and were blinded to patient data. All images were assessed and evaluated for LAA morphology and volume and were categorized according to the classification of Wang et al. 2010. Results windsock morphology existed in 32% of patients followed by chicken wing in 25% of patients. Cauliflower morphology was reported in 23% of patients whereas 20% of patients had cactus morphology. There was significant gender difference in LAA morphology where female patients had more cauliflower and cactus morphology as compared to male gender (p &lt; 0.05). Left atrial appendage volume showed a statistically significant positive correlation with advanced age and significant negative correlation with Left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusion Egyptian patients had predominantly windsock morphology in males and cactus morphology in females.


2021 ◽  
pp. 6-24
Author(s):  
O. O. Shakhmatova ◽  
E. P. Panchenko ◽  
T. V. Balakhonova ◽  
M. I. Makeev ◽  
V. M. Mironov ◽  
...  

We present a case of cardiomyopathy with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of up to 18%, multivessel arterial thrombosis in a patient who had undergone severe COVID-19 3.5 months earlier. The cardiopathy was initially considered as an outcome of SARSCoV2-induced myocarditis, but MRI with delayed gadolinium contrast revealed no fibrosis or evidence of active myocarditis. A detailed collection of the medical history showed that the duration of tachyform atrial fibrillation exceeded the 4 months indicated in the medical records. Oligosymptomatic manifestation of arrhythmia occurred 8 months earlier, the patient did not consult a physician due to epidemic conditions. Coronary angiography revealed subtotal stenosis of the anterior descending artery. Most probably, the cardiopathy was arrhythmogenic and ischemic. After achieving normosystole and coronary stenting, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 25-27%. At the first hospitalization 4 months ago, left atrial auricular thrombus was detected. After COVID-19 the patient received inadequately low dose of apixaban 5 mg per day. Three weeks after COVID-19, the patient was diagnosed with infarction of the right kidney, wall thrombosis in the abdominal aorta, thrombosis of the superficial femoral, deep femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial arteries on the left, right popliteal artery; thrombotic complications could have developed both in situ and as a result of cardioembolism. Administration of dabigatran 300 mg per day and aspirin helped to dissolve the thrombus in the left atrial auricle, improve the course of intermittent claudication, and avoid recurrent thrombotic complications. COVID-19 could contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, more malignant course of atrial fibrillation, development of thrombosis, but coronavirus infection is not the only cause of severe disease in a patient. СOVID-19 can not only be the cause of direct lesions of the heart and vessels, but also have an indirect negative effect - to delay the detection of cardiac pathology and be the cause of its hypodiagnosis under the mask of “postcovid”.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Stefano ◽  
M Bugetti ◽  
A Michelucci ◽  
G Del Monaco ◽  
G Popescu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Obesity, advanced age and left atrium dimensions have been linked to atrial fibrillation (AF). Purpose This study aimed at evidencing if the above mentioned risk factors have a role among the others in conditioning the onset of post operative AF (PoAF) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery without previous AF. Methods This study evaluated 249 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery by-pass surgery either isolated or in combination with aortic or mitral valve repair/replacement, or isolated valve repair/replacement. Prior to surgery, in all patients the following data were collected: age (yrs), body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), left atrium (LA) diameter (cm), LA area (cm2), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, %), the presence/absence of arterial hypertension (AH) and diabetes, creatinine (mg/dL). To detect the presence of PoAF, cardiac rhythm was continouosly recorded during the first seven postoperative days. Results PoAF occurred in 127 patients (51%). We compared patients with and without PoAF. Mean values (±1 SD) of continuous variables and the frequency of dicothomic ones are reported in the table. No difference was observed for sex, LA diameter, LA area, LVEF and diabetes. Instead, patients with PoAF had higher values of age, BMI, creatinine and a greater prevalence of AH. According to multivariable binary logistic analysis the independent predictors of PoAF were: age (OR = 1.05, CI 95%: 1.026–1.074, p=0.018) and BMI (OR = 1.09, CI 95%: 1.015–1.171, p=0.0001). Conclusions Results suggest that advanced age and a higher value of BMI could be strong risk factors for PoAF in patients who undergo cardiac surgery without previous AF. This considering that in the present population the values of LA diameter, LA area and LVEF showed no statistically significant difference between patients with and without PoAF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


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