Original clinical investigation

Clotting state after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: a haemostasis index could detect the relationship with the arrhythmia duration

Eleni Hatzinikolaou-Kotsakou¹ , Zafirios Kartasis² , Dimitrios Tziakas¹ , Dimitrios Stakos¹ , Athanasios Hotidis¹ , Georgios Chalikias¹ , Georgios Bourikas² and Dimitrios I Hatseras¹

¹  Academic Cardiology Department, Academic Hospital Dragana Alexandroupolis, Demokritus University of Thrace, Greece

²  Academic Hematology Department, Academic Hospital Dragana Alexandroupolis, Demokritus University of Thrace-Greece

author email corresponding author email

Thrombosis Journal 2005, 3:2doi:10.1186/1477-9560-3-2

Published:	6 March 2005

Abstract

Background

Fibrin D-dimer levels have been advocated as an useful clinical marker of thrombogenesis.

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that i) there is a hyperclotting state after the return of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm, ii) the measurement of plasma D-Dimer levels might be a good screening tool of this clotting status, and iii) the duration of arrhythmia influences the haemostasis measured by plasma D-Dimer levels.

Methods

Forty-two patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardioversion were divided into two groups: in Group A (n = 24,14 male, 56 ± 11 years) the duration of atrial fibrillation was 72 hours or more (142.7 ± 103.8 hours), in Group B (n = 18, 10 male, 61 ± 13 years) the duration of atrial fibrillation was less than 72 hours (25 ± 16 hours). Plasma fibrin D-dimer levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay before, and 36 hours after, cardioversion. The change of plasma D-dimer levels 36 hours after cardioversion was calculated as delta-D-dimer.

Results

There were no significant differences in demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data, and the success of cardioversion between the two groups. Compared to the control, the baseline D-dimer levels were significantly higher in both groups. The delta D-dimer levels were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (p < 0.005). Furthermore, plasma D-dimer levels 36 hours after cardioversion (r = 0.52, p = 0.0016) and delta-D-dimer levels (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001) showed significant correlations with the duration of atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion

The longer duration of the atrial fibrillation episode could lead to a more prominent cardiovascular hyperclotting state after cardioversion, and the mean changes of plasma D-Dimer levels could be used as an useful clinical marker of the clotting state after atrial systole return.