Arterial hypertension as a risk factor of intra-atrial thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation of non-valvular etiology

Abstract

The article considers the influence of arterial hypertension on the frequency of intra-atrial thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) of non-valvular etiology. Materials and methods. 38 patients were examined (26 men and 12 women) aged 35 to 75 years with documented AF. Paroxysmal AF was diagnosed in 10 patients (26.32%). The persistent and permanent forms of arrhythmia were revealed in 14 cases (36.84%). Stage II-III hypertensive disease (HD) was diagnosed in 27 patients (71.1%). The transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed with the use of ultrasonic devices such as Aloka-SSD-4000 ProSound (Japan) and PhilipsIE 33 (USA). Results. The analysis of results of echocardiography (both transthoracic and transesophageal) made it possible to detect intra-atrial clots in 54,8% of the patients with AF of non-valvular etiology. Atrial cavity thrombosis was registered in 15 of the 22 cases (68,2%) among the patients with hypertension as a direct cause of AF or another concomitant pathology. Lower blood flow velocity from the left atrial appendage was registered in hypertensive patients compared to those without hypertension - 29.0 (4.2) and 35.4 respectively (8.1) mm/s (p = 0.038; Student's t-test). The reduction of the peak bloodflow velocity in the left atrial appendage was proportional to the increase of hypertension (R = -0,861; p <0,001; R - Spearman's coefficient). The frequency of intra-atrial thrombosis did not depend on the form of atrialfibrillation and duration of the arrhythmic anamnesis. Conclusion. Hypertension is an independent predictor of thromboembolic complications in atrial fibrillation of non-valvular etiology.