Cardioembolic sources account for 20-30% of ischaemic strokes and are important to identify considering their prognostic and therapeutic implications. During the past years, new developments have been made in the cardiac diagnostic evaluation and management of patients with ischaemic stroke, especially regarding strokes of unknown aetiology. These recent advances have had a major impact on our understanding of embolic strokes, their diagnostic work-up, and clinical management. Herein, we propose a cardiac diagnostic work-up scheme for patients with ischaemic stroke from definite cardioembolic sources and embolic strokes of undetermined source.
BackgroundIn recent years, non-vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been increasingly prescribed to adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and atrial arrhythmias without good evidence for either safety or efficacy. To address this gap, we initiated an ongoing prospective global registry (NOTE: non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for thromboembolic prevention in patients with congenital heart disease). Using the NOTE registry data, the present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of any adverse events during the initiation phase (first 30 days) of NOACs in adults with CHD and atrial arrhythmias.Methods and ResultsFor this prospective observational study, 99 adults with CHD and atrial arrhythmias (median age 49 years [IQR 38-61], 53% male) who initiated NOACs at or after the inclusion point were analysed. Thromboembolic events, major bleeding and other minor adverse events were assessed after the first 30 days since the initiation of NOACs. In 54 patients transitioning from VKA to NOACs, 8 minor adverse events (5 minor bleeding; 3 side-effects; 1 drop-out due to minor bleeding) occurred within 30 days after the transition. No adverse events were reported in 46 VKA-naive patients within 30 days after the initiation of NOACs.ConclusionsInitiation of NOACs and transition from VKA to NOACs seem to be safe during the first month, without major adverse events and with only limited minor side effects in adults with CHD and atrial arrhythmias. This global ongoing prospective registry enables precise collection of important clinical information in real-world adults with CHD, managed with NOACs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10557-017-6745-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
BackgroundIn Fontan patients with atrial arrhythmias (AA), non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants(NOACs) have a class III recommendation according to the Pediatric & Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES)/Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) guideline in 2014, due to lack of data on outcomes as opposed to evidence of harm. To address this gap in data, we investigated the safety and efficacy of NOACs in adults with a Fontan circulation in a worldwide study.MethodsThis is an international multicentre prospective cohort study, using data from the NOTE (non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for thromboembolic prevention in patients with congenital heart disease) registry. The study population comprised consecutive adults with a Fontan circulation using NOACs. Follow-up took place at 6 months and yearly thereafter. The primary endpoints were thromboembolism and major bleeding. Secondary endpoint was minor bleeding.ResultsFrom April 2014 onward, 74 patients (mean age 32±10 years (range 18–68), 54% male) with a Fontan circulation using NOACs were included. During a median follow-up of 1.2 (IQR 0.8–2.0) years, three thromboembolic events (2.9 per 100 patient-years (95% CI 0.7 to 7.6)) and three major bleedings (2.9 per 100 patient-years (95% CI 0.7 to 7.6)) occurred in five atriopulmonary Fontan and one total cavopulmonary connection Fontan patients with AA. Fifteen patients experienced minor bleeding episodes (15.8 per 100 patient-years (95% CI 9.1 to 25.2)). In patients (n=37) using vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) prior to the initiation of NOAC, annual incidence of historical thromboembolic events and major bleeding were 2.4% (95% CI 0.4% to 7.4%) (n = 2) and 1.2% (95% CI 0.7% to 5.1%) (n = 1), respectively.ConclusionsIn this review of the largest Fontan cohort using NOACs with prospective follow-up, NOACs appear to be well tolerated and their efficacy and safety during short-term follow-up seem comparable to VKAs. Longer term data are required to confirm these promising short-term results.
Cardioembolic sources account for 20-30% of ischaemic strokes and are important to identify considering their prognostic and therapeutic implications. During the past years, new developments have been made in the cardiac diagnostic evaluation and management of patients with ischaemic stroke, especially regarding strokes of unknown aetiology. These recent advances have had a major impact on our understanding of embolic strokes, their diagnostic work-up, and clinical management. Herein, we propose a cardiac diagnostic work-up scheme for patients with ischaemic stroke from definite cardioembolic sources and embolic strokes of undetermined source.
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