PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - B Mazouz
AU  - A Keren
AU  - A Chenzbraun
TI  - Age alone is not a risk factor for left atrial thrombus in atrial fibrillation
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.2006.110502
DP  - 2008 Feb 01
TA  - Heart
PG  - 197--199
VI  - 94
IP  - 2
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/94/2/197.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/94/2/197.full
SO  - Heart2008 Feb 01; 94
AB  - Objective: Advanced age is an indication for anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation though it is not clear that elderly patients have a higher prevalence of left atrial thrombus. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether advanced age represents a risk for left atrial thrombus formation irrespective of other clinical variables.Design: Observational study in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing a transoesophageal echo scan for various clinical indications.Setting: University-affiliated cardiology service in a general hospital.Patients: Results are reported in 381 patients, 257 aged less than 75 years (Gr. A) and 124 aged 75 years or more (Gr. B).Results: Thrombi were detected by TOE in 30 patients (7.9%), 21 from group A and nine from group B (8.1% vs 7.2%, p = NS). No thrombi were detected in patients with lone atrial fibrillation. Among patients with either valvular or nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, left atrial thrombus presence was not related to age or anticoagulation status.Conclusions: In patients with atrial fibrillation, age itself does not predict the presence of left atrial thrombus and the only identifiable risk factor seems to be the existing cardiac pathology.