Cancer as a risk factor for stroke in atrial fibrillation patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulant therapy

Thrombolytic therapy, which is a priority treatment strategy in patients with acute ischemic stroke in the first 3-4.5 hours after start of the disease, has significant limitations in case of background anticoagulant therapy. Mechanic thrombextraction is considered to be an alternative therapeutic strategy in case of inefficacy or contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. The article presents a clinical case of the 75-year old female patient with acute cardioembolic stroke on background of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Long-term background usage of the direct oral anticoagulant due to atrial fibrillation is a limitation to use thrombolytic therapy, therefore mechanical thrombextraction was performed. The case presents possibilities of the successful interventional treatment of acute cardioembolic ischemic stroke. An example of a possible drug-drug interaction possibly leading to reduction of the effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy is shown. Key words: ischemic stroke, anticoagulants, mechanical trombextraction.

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The association between atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

E Svennberg ◽

L Friberg

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Oral Anticoagulant ◽

Oral Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Funding Source ◽

Anticoagulant Treatment ◽

Oral Anticoagulant Treatment ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background and objectives Previous studies have suggested that atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for pulmonary embolism. Oral anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay of treatment for atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism. We wanted to investigate if atrial fibrillation remained associated with the development of pulmonary embolism if oral anticoagulant treatment was accounted for. Method In this retrospective registry study a random sample of 20% of the adult Swedish population comprising approximately 1.5 million individuals were included during 2010–2017 in a cohort analysis. The endpoint was acute pulmonary embolism. In the cohort study, patients were analysed according to oral anticoagulant treatment and presence of atrial fibrillation at baseline. Results The group with atrial fibrillation was >25 years older than the group without and had almost three times higher incidence of pulmonary embolism (2.91 vs 1.09 /1000 year at risk, p<0.001). Individuals with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulant therapy had a lower risk of pulmonary embolism in multi-variable analysis (HR 0.59, CI 0.45–0.77). In the unadjusted analysis participants with atrial fibrillation without oral anticoagulant therapy showed an increased risk of pulmonary embolism (HR 3.33, CI 3.05–3.63). However, after multi-variable adjustment this association disappeared (HR 0.98, CI 0.89–1.07). In the entire atrial fibrillation cohort, no association was seen with the development of pulmonary embolism after multi-variable adjustment (HR 0.92, CI 0.84–1.01). The higher rate of pulmonary embolism among patients with atrial fibrillation can be fully explained by differences in age and co-morbidity. Conclusion Atrial fibrillation does not appear to be a clinically relevant risk factor for pulmonary embolism. Oral anticoagulant therapy protects against the development of pulmonary embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Associations with pulmonary embolism Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): The main author has received funding from Stockholm County Council (Clinical postdoctorial appointment)

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