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LAA occlusion is effective and safe in very high-risk atrial fibrillation patients with prior stroke: results from the multicentre German LAARGE registry.

LAA occlusion is effective and safe in very high-risk atrial fibrillation patients with prior stroke: results from the multicentre German LAARGE registry.

Authors :
Ansari U
Brachmann J
Lewalter T
Zeymer U
Sievert H
Ledwoch J
Geist V
Hochadel M
Schneider S
Senges J
Akin I
Fastner C
Source :
Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society [Clin Res Cardiol] 2024 Oct; Vol. 113 (10), pp. 1451-1462. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 31.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Background: Interventional left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) mitigates the risk of thromboembolic events in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with contraindication for long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC). Patients with prior stroke have a relevantly increased risk of recurrent stroke, so the effectiveness of LAAO could be reduced in this specific very high-risk patient group.<br />Aim: This sub-study of the LAARGE registry investigates the effectiveness and safety of LAAO for secondary prevention in nonvalvular AF patients with a history of stroke.<br />Methods: LAARGE is a prospective, non-randomised registry on the clinical reality of LAAO. The current sub-study employs data from index procedure and 1-year follow-up. Effectiveness and safety were assessed by documentation of all-cause mortality, non-fatal thromboembolism, procedure-related complications, and bleeding events.<br />Results: A total of 638 patients were consecutively included from 38 hospitals in Germany and divided into two groups: 137 patients with a history of stroke (21.5%) and 501 patients without. Successful implantation was consistent between both groups (98.5% vs. 97.4%, p = NS), while peri-procedural MACCE and other complications were rare (0% vs. 0.6% and 4.4% vs. 4.0%, respectively; each p = NS). Kaplan-Meier estimate showed no significant difference in primary effectiveness outcome measure (freedom from all-cause death or non-fatal stroke) between both groups at follow-up (87.8% vs. 87.7%, p = NS). The incidence of transient ischemic attack or systemic embolism at follow-up was low (0% vs. 0.5% and 0.9% vs. 0%, respectively; each p = NS). Severe bleeding events after hospital discharge were rare (0% vs. 0.7%, p = NS).<br />Conclusions: Patients with prior stroke demonstrated similar effectiveness and safety profile for LAAO as compared to patients without prior stroke. LAAO could serve as a feasible alternative to OAC for secondary stroke prevention in this selected group of nonvalvular AF patients.<br />Gov Identifier: NCT02230748.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1861-0692
Volume :
113
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38294498
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-024-02376-8