P1374 Clinical outcomes of patients with solid left atrial appendage thrombi. Predictors of thrombus resolution and impact of anticoagulation regimens

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE Current guidelines recommend vitamin k antagonist (VKA) therapy with a therapeutic international normalized ratio of 2.0 to 3.0 for at least 3 weeks upon detection of an LA/LAA thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Reported thrombus resolution rates with VKAs vary between approximately 50% and 90%. Data on thrombus resolution after a therapy with a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) are scarce but efficacy data on DOAC indicate on potential favorable outcomes. METHODS We analyzed 78 patients diagnosed with a solid LA thrombus by transesophageal echocardiography and compared baseline characteristics, the anticoagulatory regime and the clinical outcomes of patients with and without thrombus resolution. RESULTS Mean age of the population was 76 ±8 years old. Patients were male in 61.5% and presented with a high risk for thromboembolism (CHA2DS2-VASc 4.3 ± 1.1). At the time of thrombus diagnosis 44,9% (35/78) patients were treated with a DOAC, 47,4% (37/78) were under therapy with a VKA and only 14,1% (11/78) of the patients had no prior DOAC or VKA treatment. Mean thrombus size was 1,63 ± 0,61cm x 0,98 ± 0,31cm. Complete thrombus resolution was achieved after a mean 116 ± 79 days in a total of 48,2% (40/78) of patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of LAA thrombus resolution between VKA and DOACs (41,2% vs. 57,1%), but in cases in which therapy with a DOAC led to a complete thrombus resolution, the time needed for the resolution was significantly shorter than with VKA (81 ± 38 days vs. 129 ± 46 days, p = 0,03). CONCLUSIONS There was difference in the rate of LAA thrombus resolution between VKA and DOACs, the resolution time was shorter in patients prescribed a DOAC. In clinical practice the individual risk for thrombus persistence can not be predicted. 80,1% of patients were prescribed, what would be considered, an appropriate anticoagulant regimen, but only 48,2% had thrombus resolution at any point of follow up documented via TEE. Switching to DOAC after prior VKA therapy is an effective and valid alternative to patients presenting with LAA thrombi.