Study objectives: The prevalence of thromboembolism might be higher than previously recognized in patients with atrial flutter (AFL) based on findings of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). To evaluate the potential prothrombotic state in patients with AFL, TEE findings and hemostatic markers were compared among patient groups with AFL, normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).
Design and settings: Cross-sectional study at a university hospital.
Methods: In 28 patients (mean age, 63 years) with AFL, 58 patients (mean age, 66 years) with AF, and 27 patients (mean age, 61 years) with NSR who underwent TEE, plasma levels of markers for platelet activity (platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin [beta-TG]), thrombotic status (thrombin-antithrombin III complex and prothrombin fragments 1 and 2) and fibrinolytic status (d-dimer and plasmin-alpha(2)-plasmin inhibitor complex) were determined.
Results: Left atrial appendage (LAA) blood flow velocity in patients with AFL was higher (p < 0.05) than that in patients with AF, but was lower (p < 0.05) than that in patients with NSR (AF, 25 +/- 2; AFL, 44 +/- 4; NSR, 60 +/- 4 cm/s). Dense left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) was found in 4 patients (14%) with AFL and 16 patients (28%) with AF. There was no significant difference in plasma levels of hemostatic markers between the AFL group and the NSR group. AFL patients with impaired LAA function (LAA flow < 30cm/s, dense SEC, or both), however, showed higher level of d-dimer and beta-TG than those without impaired LAA function (d-dimer, 1.9 +/- 0.6 microg/mL vs 0.4 +/- 0.1 microg/mL; beta-TG, 73 +/- 17 ng/mL vs 33 +/- 5 ng/mL, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Patients with AFL as a whole are not in the prothrombotic state as compared with those with AF. However, patients with AFL and impaired LAA function are at potentially high risk for thromboembolism and might require anticoagulation.