Indications for Anticoagulation in Cardiac Amyloidosis

In cardiac amyloidosis, amyloid infiltrate at the atrial level promotes atrial dilation and contractile dysfunction as well as a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation which, when associated with ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction, favors blood stasis and the consequent development of intracardiac thrombosis (ICT) and cardioembolic events.

In a study of 116 autopsies of patients with cardiac amyloidosis, conducted at the Mayo Clinic, the presence of ICT was demonstrated in 33% of hearts, with a significantly higher prevalence in patients with the AL form of amyloidosis than in those with other forms (56% versus 16%, p < 0.001).

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