Lone atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapy.
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.
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R S
RS
Academic Department of Cardiology, Glenfield General Hospital, Leicester, U.K.
Brack
M J
MJ
Gershlick
A H
AH
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*
D000925:Anticoagulants