The Mechanism of and Preventive Therapy for Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a major cardiac cause of stroke, and a pathogenesis involving thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation is well established. A strategy for rhythm control that involves catheter ablation and anticoagulation therapy is evolving. A strategy for rhythm control that restores and maintains sinus rhythm should reduce the risk of ischemic stroke that is associated with atrial fibrillation; however, this is yet to be proven in large-scale randomized controlled trials. This paper reviews the emerging role of rhythm control therapy for atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke.
Cardiology Division, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Young-Hoon
YH
Kim
Cardiology Division, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Seung-Young
SY
Roh
Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Ischemic stroke; Rhythm control; Thromboembolism