Skip to main content
Log in

Atrial fibrillation: state of the art

Vorhofflimmern – State of the Art

  • review article
  • Published:
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is by far the most frequent heart rhythm disorder and is associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke, heart failure and death. Despite improvements in prevention and treatment, the prognosis has not changed significantly. To use new and promising pharmacological and interventional concepts for thromboembolic prophylaxis and treatment of AF, as well as prevention of recurrence, patient compliance has to be improved, physicians have to be trainedand experience hast to be gained. A consistently carried ‘anticoagulation pass’ might be a promising piece of the puzzle.

Zusammenfassung

Vorhofflimmern ist die mit Abstand häufigste Herzrhythmusstörung und mit einem signifikant höheren Mortalität und Risiko einen Schlaganfall oder eine Herzinsuffizienz zu erleiden, assoziiert. Trotz Verbesserung der Prävention und Behandlung, hat sich die Prognose nicht signifikant verändert.

Um vielversprechende neue pharmakologische, als auch interventionelle Behandlungskonzepte zur (Rezidiv-) Prophylaxe und Therapie von Vorhofflimmern einsetzen zu können, muss die Patienten-Compliance verbessert, Ärzte in ihrem Umgang geschult und Erfahrung gewonnen werden. Ein sorgfältig geführter „Antikoagulations-Ausweis“ könnte dahingehend ein erfolgversprechender Puzzlestein sein.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Camm AJ, et al. 2012 focused update of the ESC guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: an update of the 2010 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. Developed with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association. Eur Heart J. 2012;33:2719–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Lifetime risk for development of atrial fibrillation: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2004;110:1042–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Healey JS, et al. Subclinical atrial fibrillation and the risk of stroke. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:120–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Benjamin EJ, et al. Independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation in a population-based cohort. The Framingham Heart Study. JAMA. 1994;271:840–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Stewart S, Hart CL, Hole DJ, McMurray JJV. A population-based study of the long-term risks associated with atrial fibrillation: 20-year follow-up of the Renfrew/Paisley study. Am J Med. 2002;113:359–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hohnloser SH, et al. ASymptomatic atrial fibrillation and Stroke Evaluation in pacemaker patients and the atrial fibrillation Reduction atrial pacing Trial (ASSERT). Am Heart J. 2006;152:442–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Fuster V, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation) developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. Europace. 2006;8:651–745.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cappato R, et al. Updated worldwide survey on the methods, efficacy, and safety of catheter ablation for human atrial fibrillation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2010;3;32–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Haïssaguerre M, et al. Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating in the pulmonary veins. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:659–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. European Heart Rhythm Association, et al. Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: the Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Europace. 2010;12:1360–420.

  11. Schotten U, Verheule S, Kirchhof P, Goette A. Pathophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: a translational appraisal. Physiol Rev. 2011;91:265–325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wijffels MC, Kirchhof CJ, Dorland R, Allessie MA. Atrial fibrillation begets atrial fibrillation. A study in awake chronically instrumented goats. Circulation. 1995;92:1954–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chamberlain AM, et al. Smoking and incidence of atrial fibrillation: results from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Heart Rhythm. 2011;8:1160–6.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kodama S, et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57:427–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kaireviciute D, et al. Intracardiac expression of markers of endothelial damage/dysfunction, inflammation, thrombosis, and tissue remodeling, and the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation. J Thromb Haemost. 2011;9:2345–52.

  16. Stevenson IH, et al. Atrial electrophysiology is altered by acute hypercapnia but not hypoxemia: implications for promotion of atrial fibrillation in pulmonary disease and sleep apnea. Heart Rhythm. 2010;7:1263–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Guasch E, et al. Atrial fibrillation promotion by endurance exercise: demonstration and mechanistic exploration in an animal model. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62:68–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hobbs FDR, et al. A randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness study of systematic screening (targeted and total population screening) versus routine practice for the detection of atrial fibrillation in people aged 65 and over. The SAFE study. Health Technol Assess. 2005;9:iii–iv, ix–x, 1–74.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Jabaudon D, Sztajzel J, Sievert K, Landis T, Sztajzel R. Usefulness of ambulatory 7-day ECG monitoring for the detection of atrial fibrillation and flutter after acute stroke and transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2004;35:1647–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Liao J, Khalid Z, Scallan C, Morillo C, O’Donnell M. Noninvasive cardiac monitoring for detecting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or flutter after acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review. Stroke. 2007;38:2935–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kirchhof P, et al. Outcome parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation: recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence Network and the European Heart Rhythm Association. Europace. 2007;9:1006–23.

  22. Smith JG, et al. Assessment of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and multiple biomarkers for the prediction of incident heart failure and atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;56:1712–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Aviles RJ, et al. Inflammation as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2003;108:3006–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. De Vos CB, et al. Progression from paroxysmal to persistent atrial fibrillation clinical correlates and prognosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;55:725–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Saoudi N, et al. A classification of atrial flutter and regular atrial tachycardia according to electrophysiological mechanisms and anatomical bases; a Statement from a Joint Expert Group from The Working Group of Arrhythmias of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Eur Heart J. 2001;22:1162–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Lee G, Sanders P, Kalman JM. Catheter ablation of atrial arrhythmias: state of the art. Lancet. 2012;380:1509–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Medi C, Kalman JM. Prediction of the atrial flutter circuit location from the surface electrocardiogram. Europace. 2008;10:786–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Hart RG, Pearce LA, Aguilar MI. Meta-analysis: antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke in patients who have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:857–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kirchhof P, et al. Management of atrial fibrillation in seven European countries after the publication of the 2010 ESC Guidelines on atrial fibrillation: primary results of the PREvention oF thromboemolic events—European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF). Europace. 2014;16:6–14.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Pisters R, et al. A novel user-friendly score (HAS-BLED) to assess 1-year risk of major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation: the Euro Heart Survey. Chest. 2010;138:1093–100.

  31. Heidbuchel H, et al. European Heart Rhythm Association practical guide on the use of new oral anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Europace. 2013;15:625–51.

  32. Mant J, et al. Warfarin versus aspirin for stroke prevention in an elderly community population with atrial fibrillation (the Birmingham Atrial Fibrillation Treatment of the Aged Study, BAFTA): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2007;370:493–503.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. De Caterina R, et al. 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;59:1413–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. DeSantis G, et al. STABLE results: warfarin home monitoring achieves excellent INR control. Am J Manag Care. 2014;20:202–9.

  35. Kirchhof P, et al. Comprehensive risk reduction in patients with atrial fibrillation: emerging diagnostic and therapeutic options. Executive summary of the report from the 3rd AFNET/EHRA consensus conference. Thromb Haemost. 2011;106:1012–9.

  36. Connolly SJ, et al. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009;361:1139–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Connolly SJ, et al. The Long-Term Multicenter Observational Study of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) Study. Circulation. 2013;128:237–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Patel MR, et al. Rivaroxaban versus warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:883–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Connolly SJ, et al. Apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:806–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Granger CB, et al. Apixaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:981–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ruff CT, et al. Evaluation of the novel factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban compared with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: design and rationale for the Effective aNticoaGulation with factor xA next GEneration in Atrial Fibrillation-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction study 48 (ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48). Am Heart J. 2010;160:635–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Reddy VY, et al. 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;127:720–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Holmes DR, et al. 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;374:534–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Cooper HA, et al. Relation between achieved heart rate and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (from the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management [AFFIRM] Study). Am J Cardiol. 2004;93:1247–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Buccelletti F, et al. Efficacy and safety of vernakalant in recent-onset atrial fibrillation after the European medicines agency approval: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Pharmacol. 2012;52:1872–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Camm AJ, et al. A randomized active-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of vernakalant to amiodarone in recent-onset atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57:313–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Alboni P, et al. Outpatient treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation with the ‘pill-in-the-pocket' approach. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:2384–91.

  48. Lafuente-Lafuente C, Longas-Tejero MA, Bergmann J-F, Belmin J. Antiarrhythmics for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;5:CD005049.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Hohnloser SH, et al. Effect of dronedarone on cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:668–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Connolly SJ, et al. Dronedarone in high-risk permanent atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:2268–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Cappato R, et al. Updated worldwide survey on the methods, efficacy, and safety of catheter ablation for human atrial fibrillation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2010;3:32–8.

  52. Shivkumar K, Ellenbogen KA, Hummel JD, Miller JM, Steinberg JS. Acute termination of human atrial fibrillation by identification and catheter ablation of localized rotors and sources: first multicenter experience of focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) ablation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2012;23:1277–85.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Haissaguerre M, et al. Noninvasive panoramic mapping of human atrial fibrillation mechanisms: a feasibility report. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2013;24:711–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Narayan SM, et al. Treatment of atrial fibrillation by the ablation of localized sources: CONFIRM (Conventional Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With or Without Focal Impulse and Rotor Modulation) trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60:628–36.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Narayan SM, Krummen DE, Rappel W-J. Clinical mapping approach to diagnose electrical rotors and focal impulse sources for human atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2012;23:447–54.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Tilz RR, et al. Catheter ablation of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation: a lesson from circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2010;21:1085–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Ouyang F, et al. Recovered pulmonary vein conduction as a dominant factor for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after complete circular isolation of the pulmonary veins: lessons from double Lasso technique. Circulation. 2005;111:127–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Verma A, et al. Response of atrial fibrillation to pulmonary vein antrum isolation is directly related to resumption and delay of pulmonary vein conduction. Circulation. 2005;112:627–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Deshmukh A, et al. In-hospital complications associated with catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in the United States between 2000 and 2010: analysis of 93 801 procedures. Circulation. 2013;128:2104–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Prasad SM, et al. The Cox maze III procedure for atrial fibrillation: long-term efficacy in patients undergoing lone versus concomitant procedures. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126:1822–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Cox JL, et al. The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. III. Development of a definitive surgical procedure. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1991;101:569–83.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Melby SJ, et al. A new era in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation: the impact of ablation technology and lesion set on procedural efficacy. Ann Surg. 2006;244:583–92.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Dewilde WJM, et al. Use of clopidogrel with or without aspirin in patients taking oral anticoagulant therapy and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: an open-label, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet. 2013;381:1107–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Lamberts M, et al. Oral anticoagulation and antiplatelets in atrial fibrillation patients after myocardial infarction and coronary intervention. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62:981–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Lip GYH, et al. Management of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and/or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention/stenting. Thromb Haemost. 2010;103:13–28.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Nagarakanti R, et al. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: an analysis of patients undergoing cardioversion. Circulation. 2011;123:131–6.

  67. Piccini JP, et al. Outcomes after cardioversion and atrial fibrillation ablation in patients treated with rivaroxaban and warfarin in the ROCKET AF trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61:1998–2006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Weltermann A, et al. Dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation: perioperative and periinterventional management. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2012;124:340–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franz Weidinger MD.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We declare that there is no financial relationship between us and any organization, no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hasun, M., Gatterer, E. & Weidinger, F. Atrial fibrillation: state of the art. Wien Klin Wochenschr 126, 692–704 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0667-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0667-5

Keywords

Schlüsselwörter

Navigation