Embolic complications in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
The incidence of embolic complications among 426 patients with initial paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) was analysed. A distinct clustering of emboli was seen at the time of onset of PAF. After transition to chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF), which developed in 141 patients (33.1%), the incidence of emboli was seen to rise to a new level several times higher than the incidence level for patients with PAF. Also in this group a distinct clustering of emboli was seen during the first year after transition to CAF. On this background it is suggested that patients with PAF may benefit from treatment with anti-arrhythmic agents in order to prevent the development of CAF and that anticoagulants for stroke prevention seems especially desirable in atrial fibrillation (AF) of recent onset.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies