Differences in activated clotting time and total unfractionated heparin
dose during pulmonary vein isolation in patients on different
anticoagulation therapy
Abstract
Aims Periprocedural pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) anticoagulation
requires balancing between the risk of bleeding and thromboembolism.
Intraprocedural anticoagulation is monitored by activated clotting time
(ACT) and there are no guidelines which specify an initial
unfractionated heparin (UFH) dose. We aimed to assess differences in ACT
values and UFH dosage during PVI in patients on different oral
anticoagulants. Methods We conducted international, multi-centre,
registry-based study. Consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)
undergoing PVI, on uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy, were analysed.
Before the transseptal puncture, UFH bolus of 100 U/kg was administered
regardless of the anticoagulation drug. Results A total of 873 AF
patients were included (median age 61 years, IQR 53-66; female 30%).
There were 248, 248, 189, 188 patients on warfarin, dabigatran,
rivaroxaban, and apixaban, respectively. Mean initial ACT was 257±50
sec, overall procedural ACT 295±45 sec and total UFH dose 158±60 IU/kg.
Patients who were receiving warfarin and dabigatran compared to patients
receiving rivaroxaban and apixaban had: (i) significantly higher initial
ACT values (262±57 and 270±48 vs. 248±42 and 241±44 sec,
p<0.001), (ii) significantly higher ACT throughout PVI (309±46
and 306±44 vs. 282±37 and 272±42 sec, p<0.001), and (iii)
needed lower UFH dose during PVI (140±39 and 157±71 vs. 171±52 and
172±70 IU/kg). Conclusion There are significant differences in ACT
values and UFH dose during PVI in patients receiving different
anticoagulants. Patients on warfarin and dabigatran had higher initial
and overall ACT values and needed lower UFH dose to achieve adequate
anticoagulation during PVI than patients on rivaroxaban and apixaban.