acenocoumarol and Mitral-Valve-Stenosis

This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of antiplatelet and moderate-intensity anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation associated with recognized risk factors or mitral stenosis.. Warfarin was more effective than aspirin in preventing stroke in these patients; combined therapy with low anticoagulant intensity was ineffective. Mitral stenosis patients were not investigated.. We performed a multicenter randomized trial in 1,209 patients at risk. The intermediate-risk group included patients with risk factors or age >60 years: 242 received the cyclooxygenase inhibitor triflusal, 237 received acenocumarol, and 235 received a combination of both. The high-risk group included patients with prior embolism or mitral stenosis: 259 received anticoagulants and 236 received the combined therapy. Median follow-up was 2.76 years. Primary outcome was a composite of vascular death and nonfatal stroke or systemic embolism.. Primary outcome was lower in the combined therapy than in the anticoagulant arm in both the intermediate- (hazard ratio [HR] 0.33 [95% confidence interval (CI)0.12 to 0.91]; p = 0.02) and the high-risk group (HR 0.51 [95% CI 0.27 to 0.96]; p = 0.03). Primary outcome plus severe bleeding was lower with combined therapy in the intermediate-risk group. Nonvalvular and mitral stenosis patients had similar embolic event rates during anticoagulant therapy.. The combined antiplatelet plus moderate-intensity anticoagulation therapy significantly decreased the vascular events compared with anticoagulation alone and proved to be safe in atrial fibrillation patients.

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Aged; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Cause of Death; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Embolism; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hemorrhage; Humans; International Normalized Ratio; Intracranial Embolism; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Salicylates; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome

Mitral stenosis (MS) in association with atrial fibrillation (AF) is a clinical condition at high risk for systemic thromboembolism. Although oral anticoagulants greatly reduce the incidence of thromboembolism in these patients, the optimal intensity of treatment has never been tested in specific clinical trials, and current recommendations are derived from studies of nonrheumatic AF. In this study we tested the effectiveness of two different intensities. The study design was carried out as an open randomized prospective study in an anticoagulation clinic. We randomized 103 patients with MS and AF to a low (target INR = 2) or moderate (target INR = 3) anticoagulation regimen. The primary end points were systemic thromboembolism, major bleeding and vascular death. During a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, 1 systemic embolism occurred in the low intensity group (0.41 per 100 pt/yrs, CI 0.01-2.3), and 1 minor stroke occurred in the moderate intensity group (0.40 per 100 pt/yrs, CI 0.01-2.3; p = ns). Major bleeding occurred in 8 patients, with 3 in the low intensity (1.25 per 100 pt/yrs) and 5 in the moderate intensity group (2.0 per 100 pt/yrs, Incidence Rate Ratio 0.6, CI 0.1-3.1; p = ns). Total events (systemic embolism, major bleeding and vascular death) occurred in 7 low intensity patients and 8 moderate intensity patients. As expected, minor bleeding was more frequent in the moderate intensity group of patients, who actually had more intense treatment and required closer monitoring of oral anticoagulant treatment. These data suggest that low intensity anticoagulation, as performed in an anticoagulation clinic, is effective and safe in high risk patients with MS and AF.

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Administration, Oral; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Random Allocation; Thromboembolism; Time Factors; Warfarin

Mitral stenosis (MS) is frequently associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) as a consequence of hemodynamic and inflammatory changes in the left atrium. Both conditions predispose to thrombus formation, with frequent involvement of the left atrial appendage (LAA), and consequent increase in the incidence of systemic thromboembolic events. Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) reduces the risk of thromboembolism in patients with significant mitral stenosis. Percutaneous LAA closure is also associated with a reduction in thromboembolic risk in patients with AF, but there are no data regarding the use of this technique in patients with significant mitral valve disease. We report the case of a 57-year-old-woman with significant MS and permanent AF, in New York Heart Association functional class II, who despite adequate oral anticoagulation with acenocoumarol, presented several clinical episodes of systemic thromboembolism in the last four years. It was decided to perform a combined percutaneous procedure, including both PMV and percutaneous LAA closure with the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug device. No significant acute complications occurred and the patient was discharged on indefinite treatment with acenocoumarol associated with aspirin 100 mg/d for three months. After a one-year follow-up, there have been no new embolic episodes or other complications.

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Anticoagulants; Atrial Appendage; Atrial Fibrillation; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Septal Occluder Device; Thromboembolism; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Aged; Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Atrial Fibrillation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; International Normalized Ratio; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Salicylates; Warfarin

Left atrial (LA) and/or left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi are often found in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). The fate of these thrombi on optimal oral anticoagulation, and the feasibility of balloon mitral valvulotomy (BMV) is not well established. The study aims were to assess the efficacy of oral anticoagulation in the resolution/organization of these thrombi, and the feasibility and safety of Inoue BMV in these patients.. All consecutive patients with severe MS and a mitral valve suitable for BMV, but found to have LA/LAA thrombus on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) between January 1999 and January 2001 were included. Anticoagulation was carried out with oral nicoumalone; the INR was maintained at 2.5-3.5. Follow up TEE was performed at intervals of two months for a maximum of six months. BMV using the Inoue balloon technique was performed as soon as possible after resolution or organization of thrombus.. Sixty-six patients with MS (41 females, 25 males, mean age 33.1+/-10.4 years) and LA thrombus on TEE were studied. Thrombi were categorized into three groups: type I, thrombi localized to LAA (n = 36; 54.6%); type II, LAA thrombi protruding just beyond the LAA mouth (n = 22; 33.3%); and type III, LAA thrombi extending into the LA cavity (n = 8; 12.1%). Mean thrombus size was 27.6+/-9.1 mm (range: 15-35 mm). Complete resolution was seen in 22 patients (33.3%), and organization in 38 (57.6%). No significant change was observed in six patients (9.1%). Resolution was most common in the first two months, and in type I thrombi (41.7%, 27.2% and 12.5% in type I, II and III thrombi, respectively). BMV was performed in 90.9% of patients, and was uneventful in all. BMV was performed in the presence of organized thrombus in 63% of patients.. Anticoagulant therapy is effective in resolution and/or organization of LA thrombi in patients with MS. Six months' duration of anticoagulation appears optimal. BMV using the Inoue balloon technique can be performed safely after resolution or organization of thrombus, with no additional risk of complication.

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Administration, Oral; Adult; Anticoagulants; Catheterization; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Atria; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Probability; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis; Thrombosis; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors related to the presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in mitral valve disease, and to ascertain whether it is a predictor of thromboembolism. One hundred and one patients (47 men, 54 women) with a mean age of 57.04 +/- 10.6 years who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were included in the study. Forty-five (44.5%) had isolated or predominant mitral valve stenosis, 12 (11.9%) predominant mitral insufficiency and 44 (43.6%) had had previous mitral valve replacement. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was detected by transesophageal echocardiography in 58 patients, while the transthoracic approach detected it in only 15 (14.9%) (P < 0.0001). An atrial thrombus was found in six cases, with a history of recent systemic embolism in three of them. There was no thrombus in the left atria of a further nine patients, despite definitive histories of recent systemic embolism. The finding of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was related to the presence of atrial fibrillation or enlarged left atrium, the severity of mitral stenosis and the absence of significant mitral insufficiency. Anticoagulant therapy was not significantly associated with spontaneous left atrial echo contrast, but a stepwise linear regression analysis showed that its presence was the only independent predictor of thromboembolism (p < 0.0001). We conclude that left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in mitral valve disease can be discovered mainly by transesophageal echocardiography, and is correlated with factors which are associated with low left atrial blood flow velocity such as atrial fibrillation, enlarged left atrium, mitral stenosis of increased severity and the absence of significant mitral insufficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Adult; Aged; Atrial Fibrillation; Echocardiography; Echocardiography, Doppler; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Female; Heart Atria; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Hemodynamics; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Postoperative Complications; Prosthesis Design; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Thromboembolism

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Aged; Female; Heart Atria; Heparin; Humans; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Thrombosis; Ultrasonography

We report a case of embolism of the intrarenal arterial branches of a cardiac origin. The results of the urographic, ultrasound, ascending pyelography and laboratory work up prompted us to suspect the vascular nature of the condition. Its unilateral feature, involvement of the intrarenal arterial branches, and the coexisting mitral valve disease with atrial flutter advised conservative management with systemic anticoagulation.

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Atrial Flutter; Embolism; Female; Heparin; Humans; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Renal Artery Obstruction