title: Lone atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: Assessment of risk of thromboembolism and potential benefit of prophylaxis with long-term anticoagulant therapy in lone atrial fibrillation is hampered by a lack of consensus regarding definition of lone atrial fibrillation. In general, patients less than 60 years of age with normal left ventricular function and left atrial size have a low risk of thromboembolic events and are unlikely to gain any significant benefit with anticoagulants; however, patients older than 60 years with impaired left ventricular function, enlarged left atrium, and/or associated conditions such as hypertension have an increased risk of thromboembolism and would benefit from long-term anticoagulant therapy. Decisions regarding anticoagulant usage would be simplified by using a scoring system containing clinical and investigational variables.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Cardiology, Glenfield General Hospital, Leicester, U.K.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: More
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brack
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gershlick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants