title: Anticoagulation Issues in Patients with AF.
abstract: The evaluation of the risk of stroke for individual patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is a crucial factor in the decision to provide anticoagulation therapy. Novel oral anticoagulants, as compared with warfarin, are associated with a lower or similar rate of stroke and systemic embolism and a lower rate of hemorrhagic stroke. These drugs are administered at a fixed dose, have a shorter peak action and half-life, and do not require international normalized ratio monitoring. After a successful AF ablation, oral anticoagulation therapy discontinuation seems to be feasible in patients with a CHADS2 score greater than or equal to 2 and normal left atrial (LA) function. However, larger prospective randomized trials are needed to confirm the safety of this strategy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Ospedale dell'Angelo, Mestre-Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossillo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: China
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madalosso
authors.forename: Sakis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Themistoclakis