Pharmacological Therapy
This section explores guideline recommendations and the current evidence for the use of the NOACs in VAF
In this section:
Defining VAF
- Oral anticoagulant therapy with VKAs (such as warfarin) has been standard therapy for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with AF for many years and is recommended
by guidelines - Establishing the origin of AF – VAF or NVAF – is often challenging for physicians, and definitions differ in current guidelines on AF
Current definitions of NVAF and VAF are summarized below.
Definition according to guidelines | |
---|---|
NVAF | Cases in which rhythm disturbance occurs in the absence of rheumatic mitral valve disease, a prosthetic heart valve or mitral valve repair |
VAF | AF related to rheumatic valvular disease (predominantly mitral stenosis) or prosthetic heart valves |
NVAF was interpreted differently in the designs of the pivotal phase III trials for the NOACs for stroke prevention in patients with AF, with inclusion and exclusion criteria varying with regard to associated VHD as opposed to VAF. As a result, it is considered that although a small number of patients with VHD were included in the phase III studies of the NOACs, their overall profile in patient with VAF
Current guideline recommendations in VAF
Of all types of VHD, rheumatic mitral valve disease carries the greatest risk of systemic thromboembolism, and onset of AF further increases this risk; it is the only type of VHD with recommendations for thromboembolic prophylaxis with an anticoagulant (VKA with target INR
Data regarding associated stroke risk in patients with mitral valve prolapse, mitral valve regurgitation or aortic valve regurgitation are conflicting or limited; there are currently no specific recommendations for thromboembolic prophylaxis in these patient groups. These patients were not specifically excluded from the pivotal phase III trials of the NOACs in patients with AF, and retrospective analyses assessing outcomes from patients with VHD are available (further information on these subanalyses is provided in the following section).
Evidence for the use of NOACs in VAF
The large phase III studies of the NOACs excluded patients with VAF accompanying mitral stenosis or patients with mechanical prosthetic valves, but did not necessarily exclude those with other types of VHD, such as mitral regurgitation or aortic disease. Retrospective analyses of outcomes in patients with VHD and AF involved in these trials (subanalyses) are summarized below. In general, the benefits of all four NOACs (dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban and rivaroxaban) for stroke prevention were consistent compared with warfarin in patients with and without VHD.
NOAC (phase III pivotal trial) |
Outcomes from subanalyses in patients with VAF | Source |
---|---|---|
Direct thrombin inhibitor | ||
Dabigatran (RE-LY) |
Ezekowitz MD et al. 2014 | |
Direct Factor Xa inhibitors | ||
Apixaban (ARISTOTLE) |
Avezum A |
|
Edoxaban (ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48) |
In patients with VHD |
Renda G |
Rivaroxaban (ROCKET AF) |
Breithardt G et al. 2014 |
Approval No.: PP-XAR-ALL-0392-1
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See also
Peripheral Artery Disease: causes and consequences
Peripheral Artery Disease: causes and consequences
Coronary Artery Disease: causes and consequences
Coronary Artery Disease: causes and consequences