Antithrombotic therapy after angioplasty of pulmonary vein stenosis due to atrial fibrillation ablation: A two‐center experience and review of the literature



Fink, Thomas, Vogler, Julia, Proietti, Riccardo ORCID: 0000-0003-4113-7030, Sciacca, Vanessa, Heeger, Christian‐Hendrik, Rottner, Laura, Maurer, Tilman, Metzner, Andreas, Mathew, Shibu, Eitel, Charlotte
et al (show 8 more authors) (2022) Antithrombotic therapy after angioplasty of pulmonary vein stenosis due to atrial fibrillation ablation: A two‐center experience and review of the literature. Journal of Arrhythmia, 38 (6). pp. 1009-1016.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a severe complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation resulting in narrowing of affected pulmonary veins (PVs). Interventional treatment consists of angioplasty with or without PV stenting. The optimal postprocedural antithrombotic therapy is not known.<h4>Study aims</h4>To investigate the impact of antithrombotic medical therapy on recurrence of PVS after PV angioplasty.<h4>Methods</h4>A retrospective study of patients undergoing PV angioplasty with or without stent implantation in two German centers was performed. Postinterventional antithrombotic therapy consisted of either dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) or a combination of oral anticoagulation with single or dual antiplatelet therapy for 3-12 months after intervention. Angiographic follow-up was recommended 3, 6, and 12 months after intervention and in case of symptom recurrence.<h4>Results</h4>Thirty patients underwent treatment of 42 PVS. After intervention, twenty-eight patients received triple therapy and 14 patients received dual therapy/DAPT; restenosis occurred in 5/22 (22.7%) patients with triple therapy and 8/14 (57.1%) patients with dual therapy/DAPT PV (<i>p</i> = .001). Estimated freedom from PV restenosis after 500 days was 18.8 ± 15.8% (dual therapy/DAPT) and 76.2 ± 10.5% (triple therapy) (<i>p</i> = .003). Univariate regression analysis revealed postprocedural medication as a significant risk factor for restenosis (<i>p</i> = .019). No bleeding events occurred regardless of applied antithrombotic therapy.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Triple antithrombotic therapy after PV angioplasty is associated with less frequent restenosis as compared to dual antiplatelet therapy or a combination of anticoagulation and single antiplatelet therapy. No severe bleeding events occurred in patients on triple therapy. These findings need to be confirmed in larger patient cohorts.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary vein stenosis; restenosis, triple therapy
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 18 Jan 2023 10:19
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:27
DOI: 10.1002/joa3.12777
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12777
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URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3167116