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Genovesi S, Camm AJ, Covic A, Burlacu A, Meijers B, Franssen C, Luyckx V, Liakopoulos V, Alfano G, Combe C, Basile C. Treatment strategies of the thromboembolic risk in kidney failure patients with atrial fibrillation. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2024; 39:1248-1257. [PMID: 38816212 PMCID: PMC11288792 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfae121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients affected by kidney failure, i.e. glomerular filtration rate <15 ml/min/1.73 m2, is high and probably underestimated. Numerous uncertainties remain regarding how to prevent thromboembolic events in this population because both cardiology and nephrology guidelines do not provide clear recommendations. The efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC) in preventing thromboembolism in patients with kidney failure and AF has not been demonstrated for either vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or direct anticoagulants (DOACs). Moreover, it remains unclear which is more effective and safer, because estimated creatinine clearance <25-30 ml/min was an exclusion criterion in the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Three RCTs comparing DOACs and VKAs in kidney failure failed to reach the primary endpoint, as they were underpowered. The left atrial appendage is the main source of thromboembolism in the presence of AF. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has recently been proposed as an alternative to OAC. RCTs comparing the efficacy and safety of LAAC versus OAC in kidney failure were terminated prematurely due to recruitment failure. A recent prospective study showed a reduction in thromboembolic events in haemodialysis patients with AF and undergoing LAAC compared with patients taking or not taking OAC. We review current treatment standards and discuss recent developments in managing the thromboembolic risk in kidney failure patients with AF. The importance of shared decision-making with the multidisciplinary team and the patient to consider individual risks and benefits of each treatment option is underlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simonetta Genovesi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Nephrology Clinic, Monza, Italy
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - A John Camm
- St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Adrian Covic
- Nephrology Clinic, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Center – ‘C.I. Parhon’ University Hospital and 'Grigore T. Popa’ University of Medicine, Iasi, Romania
| | - Alexandru Burlacu
- Nephrology Clinic, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Center – ‘C.I. Parhon’ University Hospital and 'Grigore T. Popa’ University of Medicine, Iasi, Romania
| | - Björn Meijers
- Nephrology Unit, University Hospitals Leuven and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Organ Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Casper Franssen
- Department of Nephrology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Valerie Luyckx
- Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vassilios Liakopoulos
- Second Department of Nephrology, AHEPA University Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Gaetano Alfano
- Nephrology Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Christian Combe
- Department of Nephrology, CHU de Bordeaux and INSERM U1026, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Carlo Basile
- Associazione Nefrologica Gabriella Sebastio, Martina Franca, Italy
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Mavrakanas TA. Direct oral anticoagulants: the safer choice in chronic kidney disease? Clin Kidney J 2024; 17:sfad288. [PMID: 38186881 PMCID: PMC10768764 DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfad288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Mavrakanas
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- MUHC Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | 2B.44–5252 de Maisonneuve W, Montreal, QC, Canada
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