Long-term rhythm monitoring with an implantable loop recorder in patients after the first clinical atrial fibrillation episode. Towards an individualized management.

Long-term rhythm monitoring with an implantable loop recorder in patients after the first clinical atrial fibrillation episode. Towards an individualized management. Minerva Cardioangiol. 2019 Feb 05;: Authors: Papakonstantinou PE, Simantirakis EN Abstract Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia with a variable clinical profile (symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes), the first symptomatic episode leads to its initial diagnosis in most cases. Nowadays, continuous and remote long- term cardiac rhythm monitoring is feasible by the use of implantable loop recorders. The data concerning the AF recurrences and progression after the first ECG- documented clinical AF episode demonstrates that a high percentage of patients may not suffer any other AF recurrence, or may present a low recurrence rate of the arrhythmia in the future. The AF burden may play a key role in the management of the arrhythmia as far as the decision-making for anticoagulation, rate and/or rhythm control therapy is concerned. There is evidence that a higher AF burden is associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke. Non-Vitamin K antagonists (NOACs) anticoagulants are increasingly used in the management of AF, providing a more predictable effect with rapid onset and offset of their action. The use of these agents in combination with devices that provide a continuous remote rhythm monitoring capability has encouraged anticoagulation strategies based on the ...
Source: Minerva Cardioangiologica - Category: Cardiology Tags: Minerva Cardioangiol Source Type: research