Left Atrial Appendage Closure vs. Novel Anticoagulation Agents in Atrial Fibrillation

Summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with a prevalence of 1-2%. Without antithrombotic treatment, the annual risk of a cardioembolic event is 5-6%. The source of a cardioembolic event is a thrombus, which usually forms in the left atrial appendage (LAA). The prevention of cardioembolic events involves treatment with anticoagulant drugs, which were limited to, until recently, vitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin). Anticoagulant treatment with warfarin can lead to adverse bleeding events, some of which can be life threatening. Recently, two new options for thrombus prevention have been developed. The first is the novel anticoagulants (NOAC), which were associated with slightly better safety profiles due to a lower frequency of intracranial bleeding in large randomized trials . The second option involves interventional occlusion of the LAA. The aim of this project is to compare the LAA occlusion intervention to NOAC pharmacological treatment in a randomized multicenter study of AF patients at high risk of a cardioembolic event.

Timeline

Start

2015-10-13

Primary completion

2019-07-20

Completion

2019-07-20

Publications

• Background Miller PS, Andersson FL, Kalra L. Are cost benefits of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation underestimated? Stroke. 2005 Feb;36(2):360-6. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000153002.56324.8c. Epub 2005 Jan 6.
• Background Lin HJ, Wolf PA, Kelly-Hayes M, Beiser AS, Kase CS, Benjamin EJ, D'Agostino RB. Stroke severity in atrial fibrillation. The Framingham Study. Stroke. 1996 Oct;27(10):1760-4. doi: 10.1161/01.str.27.10.1760.
• Results Zoni-Berisso M, Filippi A, Landolina M, Brignoli O, D'Ambrosio G, Maglia G, Grimaldi M, Ermini G. Frequency, patient characteristics, treatment strategies, and resource usage of atrial fibrillation (from the Italian Survey of Atrial Fibrillation Management [ISAF] study). Am J Cardiol. 2013 Mar 1;111(5):705-11. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.11.026. Epub 2012 Dec 28.
• Results Wolf PA, Benjamin EJ, Belanger AJ, Kannel WB, Levy D, D'Agostino RB. Secular trends in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation: The Framingham Study. Am Heart J. 1996 Apr;131(4):790-5. doi: 10.1016/s0002-8703(96)90288-4. No abstract available.
• Results Kannel WB, Wolf PA, Benjamin EJ, Levy D. Prevalence, incidence, prognosis, and predisposing conditions for atrial fibrillation: population-based estimates. Am J Cardiol. 1998 Oct 16;82(8A):2N-9N. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(98)00583-9.
• Results Stoddard MF, Dawkins PR, Prince CR, Ammash NM. Left atrial appendage thrombus is not uncommon in patients with acute atrial fibrillation and a recent embolic event: a transesophageal echocardiographic study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1995 Feb;25(2):452-9. doi: 10.1016/0735-1097(94)00396-8.
• Results ACTIVE Writing Group of the ACTIVE Investigators; Connolly S, Pogue J, Hart R, Pfeffer M, Hohnloser S, Chrolavicius S, Pfeffer M, Hohnloser S, Yusuf S. Clopidogrel plus aspirin versus oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation in the Atrial fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial with Irbesartan for prevention of Vascular Events (ACTIVE W): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2006 Jun 10;367(9526):1903-12. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68845-4.
• Results Gage BF, Boechler M, Doggette AL, Fortune G, Flaker GC, Rich MW, Radford MJ. Adverse outcomes and predictors of underuse of antithrombotic therapy in medicare beneficiaries with chronic atrial fibrillation. Stroke. 2000 Apr;31(4):822-7. doi: 10.1161/01.str.31.4.822.
• Results De Caterina R, Husted S, Wallentin L, Andreotti F, Arnesen H, Bachmann F, Baigent C, Huber K, Jespersen J, Kristensen SD, Lip GY, Morais J, Rasmussen LH, Siegbahn A, Verheugt FW, Weitz JI; Coordinating Committee. New oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes: ESC Working Group on Thrombosis-Task Force on Anticoagulants in Heart Disease position paper. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 Apr 17;59(16):1413-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.02.008.
• Results Connolly SJ, Ezekowitz MD, Yusuf S, Eikelboom J, Oldgren J, Parekh A, Pogue J, Reilly PA, Themeles E, Varrone J, Wang S, Alings M, Xavier D, Zhu J, Diaz R, Lewis BS, Darius H, Diener HC, Joyner CD, Wallentin L; RE-LY Steering Committee and Investigators. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009 Sep 17;361(12):1139-51. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0905561. Epub 2009 Aug 30.
• Results Patel MR, Mahaffey KW, Garg J, Pan G, Singer DE, Hacke W, Breithardt G, Halperin JL, Hankey GJ, Piccini JP, Becker RC, Nessel CC, Paolini JF, Berkowitz SD, Fox KA, Califf RM; ROCKET AF Investigators. Rivaroxaban versus warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Sep 8;365(10):883-91. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1009638. Epub 2011 Aug 10.
• Results Connolly SJ, Eikelboom J, Joyner C, Diener HC, Hart R, Golitsyn S, Flaker G, Avezum A, Hohnloser SH, Diaz R, Talajic M, Zhu J, Pais P, Budaj A, Parkhomenko A, Jansky P, Commerford P, Tan RS, Sim KH, Lewis BS, Van Mieghem W, Lip GY, Kim JH, Lanas-Zanetti F, Gonzalez-Hermosillo A, Dans AL, Munawar M, O'Donnell M, Lawrence J, Lewis G, Afzal R, Yusuf S; AVERROES Steering Committee and Investigators. Apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Mar 3;364(9):806-17. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1007432. Epub 2011 Feb 10.
• Results Granger CB, Alexander JH, McMurray JJ, Lopes RD, Hylek EM, Hanna M, Al-Khalidi HR, Ansell J, Atar D, Avezum A, Bahit MC, Diaz R, Easton JD, Ezekowitz JA, Flaker G, Garcia D, Geraldes M, Gersh BJ, Golitsyn S, Goto S, Hermosillo AG, Hohnloser SH, Horowitz J, Mohan P, Jansky P, Lewis BS, Lopez-Sendon JL, Pais P, Parkhomenko A, Verheugt FW, Zhu J, Wallentin L; ARISTOTLE Committees and Investigators. Apixaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Sep 15;365(11):981-92. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1107039. Epub 2011 Aug 27.
• Results Holmes DR, Reddy VY, Turi ZG, Doshi SK, Sievert H, Buchbinder M, Mullin CM, Sick P; PROTECT AF Investigators. Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage versus warfarin therapy for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: a randomised non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2009 Aug 15;374(9689):534-42. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61343-X.
• Results Reddy VY, Mobius-Winkler S, Miller MA, Neuzil P, Schuler G, Wiebe J, Sick P, Sievert H. Left atrial appendage closure with the Watchman device in patients with a contraindication for oral anticoagulation: the ASAP study (ASA Plavix Feasibility Study With Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Jun 25;61(25):2551-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.03.035. Epub 2013 Apr 10.
• Results Chun KR, Bordignon S, Urban V, Perrotta L, Dugo D, Furnkranz A, Nowak B, Schmidt B. Left atrial appendage closure followed by 6 weeks of antithrombotic therapy: a prospective single-center experience. Heart Rhythm. 2013 Dec;10(12):1792-9. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2013.08.025. Epub 2013 Aug 22.
• Results Reddy VY, Doshi SK, Sievert H, Buchbinder M, Neuzil P, Huber K, Halperin JL, Holmes D; PROTECT AF Investigators. Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for stroke prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation: 2.3-Year Follow-up of the PROTECT AF (Watchman Left Atrial Appendage System for Embolic Protection in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) Trial. Circulation. 2013 Feb 12;127(6):720-9. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.114389. Epub 2013 Jan 16.
• Results Schulman S, Kearon C; Subcommittee on Control of Anticoagulation of the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Definition of major bleeding in clinical investigations of antihemostatic medicinal products in non-surgical patients. J Thromb Haemost. 2005 Apr;3(4):692-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01204.x.
• Results Alli O, Doshi S, Kar S, Reddy V, Sievert H, Mullin C, Swarup V, Whisenant B, Holmes D Jr. Quality of life assessment in the randomized PROTECT AF (Percutaneous Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage Versus Warfarin Therapy for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) trial of patients at risk for stroke with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Apr 30;61(17):1790-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.01.061. Epub 2013 Feb 28.
• Results Lloyd-Jones DM, Wang TJ, Leip EP, Larson MG, Levy D, Vasan RS, D'Agostino RB, Massaro JM, Beiser A, Wolf PA, Benjamin EJ. Lifetime risk for development of atrial fibrillation: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2004 Aug 31;110(9):1042-6. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000140263.20897.42. Epub 2004 Aug 16.
• Osmancik P, Neuzil P, Karel T, Waldauf P, Hozmanova J, Hozman M, Kralovec S, Herman D, Petru J, Sediva L, Fischer J, Stepanek L, Mala I, Whang W, Reddy VY. Pulsed field ablation vs sham ablation to treat atrial fibrillation (the PFA-SHAM trial). Heart Rhythm O2. 2025 Aug 7;6(11):1815-1824. doi: 10.1016/j.hroo.2025.07.103. eCollection 2025 Nov.
• Osmancik P, Herman D, Neuzil P, Hala P, Taborsky M, Kala P, Poloczek M, Stasek J, Haman L, Branny M, Chovancik J, Cervinka P, Holy J, Kovarnik T, Zemanek D, Havranek S, Vancura V, Peichl P, Tousek P, Lekesova V, Jarkovsky J, Novackova M, Benesova K, Widimsky P, Reddy VY; PRAGUE-17 Trial Investigators. 4-Year Outcomes After Left Atrial Appendage Closure Versus Nonwarfarin Oral Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 Jan 4;79(1):1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.10.023. Epub 2021 Nov 5.
• Osmancik P, Herman D, Neuzil P, Hala P, Taborsky M, Kala P, Poloczek M, Stasek J, Haman L, Branny M, Chovancik J, Cervinka P, Holy J, Kovarnik T, Zemanek D, Havranek S, Vancura V, Opatrny J, Peichl P, Tousek P, Lekesova V, Jarkovsky J, Novackova M, Benesova K, Widimsky P, Reddy VY; PRAGUE-17 Trial Investigators. Left Atrial Appendage Closure Versus Direct Oral Anticoagulants in High-Risk Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jun 30;75(25):3122-3135. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.067.

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