Anticoagulants versus Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Co-Morbid Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is an alternative approach to anticoagulants. Nonetheless, data regarding the outcomes of LAAC procedures in patients with thrombocytopenia remain lacking. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of the composite endpoint comprising ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, major bleeding, and cardiac cause of death among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and thrombocytopenia who were either undergoing LAAC or receiving oral anticoagulants. The secondary endpoint was the determination of total mortality. Data from a prospective, single-center registry of patients undergoing LAAC procedures were analyzed. A subset of 50 consecutive patients with thrombocytopenia were selected. Thrombocytopenia was defined as a thrombocyte count below 150,000. Subsequently, from patients hospitalized with AF receiving oral anticoagulants, 50 patients were further chosen based on propensity score matching, ensuring comparability with the study group. The primary endpoint occurred in 2% of patients in the LAAC group and 10% of patients in the non-LAAC group (p = 0.097). Additionally, a significant difference was noted in the occurrence of the secondary endpoint, which was observed in 0% of patients in the LAAC group and 10% of patients in the non-LAAC group (p = 0.025). In patients with thrombocytopenia the LAAC procedure improves prognosis compared with continued anticoagulant treatment.