Culprit factors for the failure of well-conducted warfarin therapy to prevent ischemic events in patients with atrial fibrillation: the role of homocysteine.
OBJECTIVE
In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is effective in reducing stroke and embolism. However, despite OAT, ischemic events do occur in some patients. Studies specifically addressing the identification of risk factors for ischemic events during well-conducted OAT are not available. In this study, we prospectively investigated the role of classic risk factors and homocysteine levels in the occurrence of ischemic complications in 364 AF patients on OAT.


METHODS
The quality of anticoagulation levels and the occurrence of bleeding and thrombotic events were recorded.


RESULTS
During follow-up (859 patient years) 21 patients had ischemic complications (rate 2.4 x 100 patient-years). Homocysteine plasma levels were higher in these patients than in patients without ischemic complications during OAT (P<0.01), whereas no difference was observed in relation to the quality of OAT. The presence of a history of previous ischemic events, hypertension, and homocysteine plasma levels over the 90th percentile were all associated with an increased risk of ischemic events during OAT (odds ratio [OR]=7, 4.5, and 4.7, respectively). The coexistence of these risk factors markedly increased the risk (OR=13.1; 95% CI, 3.7 to 45.7; P=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our results indicate that AF patients with multiple risk factors may not be sufficiently protected by OAT, even when this is well conducted.
Poli
Daniela
D
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Thrombosis Centre, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. polida@ao-careggi.toscana.it
Antonucci
Emilia
E
Cecchi
Emanuele
E
Marcucci
Rossella
R
Liotta
Agatina Alessandrello
AA
Cellai
Anna Paola
AP
Lenti
Meri
M
Gensini
Gian Franco
GF
Abbate
Rosanna
R
Prisco
Domenico
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012107:Research Design; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006710:Homocysteine; D014859:Warfarin