title: Coagulation alterations in treating arrhythmias with radiofrequency ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine an influence of radiofrequency ablation on changes in coagulation system.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 30 patients with cardiac arrhythmias. Platelet aggregation, fibrinogen and D-dimer level were analyzed before, right after, 24 and 72 h after radiofrequency ablation. Platelet aggregation was explored in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma using adenosine diphosphate (ADP), epinephrine, and collagen for induction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet aggregation induced by ADP and collagen in whole blood plasma increased significantly (P<0.01) (by 45% and 43%, respectively) in 24 h after radiofrequency ablation and remained increased in 72 h after radiofrequency ablation (by 11% and 35%, respectively) (P<0.01) as compared with baseline results. Spontaneous aggregation of platelet-rich plasma as well as ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation tended to decrease right after radiofrequency ablation. Epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation significantly decreased by 17.5% after radiofrequency ablation (P<0.01) and started to increase in 24 h after radiofrequency ablation. In 72 h after radiofrequency ablation, platelet aggregation induced by different agonists increased by 7-45% significantly (P<0.05), and values were higher than baseline ones. Fibrinogen level after radiofrequency ablation did not differ from that of the baseline (3.08+/-0.7 g/L), but D-dimer level increased significantly (from 0.39+/-0.3 to 1.29+/-2.4 mg/L, P<0.01). In 24 h after radiofrequency ablation, an increase in fibrinogen level and a decrease in D-dimer level were found. Fibrinogen level increased to 3.32+/-0.6 g/L significantly in 72 h after radiofrequency ablation (P<0.05). Meanwhile, D-dimer concentration decreased to 0.78+/-0.8 mg/L, but it was still significantly higher (P<0.05) than the baseline value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite diminished platelet aggregation and increased D-dimer level right after radiofrequency ablation, a risk of thrombosis increased in the next few days after radiofrequency ablation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Sukileliu 17, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania. vkozlovaite@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kozlovaite
authors.forename: Pranas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grybauskas
authors.forename: Jūrate
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cimbolaityte
authors.forename: Ausra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mongirdiene
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sileikis
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zabiela
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kazaniene
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ptasekas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005340:Fibrinogen