Prospective comparison of periprocedural coagulation markers among uninterrupted anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation ablation

Abstract Background The difference in coagulation state during the periprocedural period of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation among patients with uninterrupted anticoagulation has not been fully elucidated. Objective To compare periprocedural trends in coagulation markers among patients on uninterrupted anticoagulation for AF ablation. Methods In total, 275 consecutive patients who underwent AF ablation were evaluated; these patients were divided into groups according to the anticoagulant they received: dabigatran (DG = 64), rivaroxaban (RG = 62), apixaban (AG = 60), edoxaban (EG = 59), or warfarin (WG = 30). The trends in coagulation markers and the rate of silent stroke (SS) confirmed by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated. Results The fibrin monomer complex (FMC) level on postoperative day 1 and the prothrombin fragment 1+2 (PF1+2) levels on the operative day and postoperative day 1 were higher in the DG than in the other groups (P Conclusion The FMC and PF1+2 levels during the periprocedural period of AF ablation was higher in the DG than in the other groups. Furthermore, Dabigatran use independently predicted the occurrence of SS.