Verdades y controversias de la anticoagulación en fibrilación auricular no valvular / Truths and controversies about coagulation in non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Resumen La fibrilación auricular es la arritmia de significado clínico más frecuente a la que médicos generales y especialistas se pueden ver enfrentados. Esta enfermedad aumenta cinco veces el riesgo de ataque cerebrovascular. La evidencia actual favorece el uso de anticoagulantes orales de acción directa sobre warfarina para la prevención de eventos cardioembólicos en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular, en ausencia de contraindicaciones. En este artículo se discutirán a modo de preguntas y respuestas los aspectos más importantes, así como algunas controversias acerca de la anticoagulación en fibrilación auricular no valvular.

Abstract Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically significant arrhythmia that may be encountered by general and specialist doctors. This disorder increases the risk of a cerebrovascular accident by five times. The current evidence prefers the use of direct action oral anticoagulants over warfarin for the prevention of cardioembolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the absence of contraindications. Using a series of questions and answers, the most important aspects will be discussed in this article, as well as some controversies about anticoagulation in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Study of serum non-HDL cholesterol in cerebrovascular disease.

Background: Non-HDL cholesterol is a potential newer risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Objective: To explore the association of non-HDL cholesterol with cerebrovascular disease. Methods: This case control study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, BSMMU, Dhaka during the period of January to December 2007 to evaluate the association of non-HDL cholesterol with CVD in Bangladeshi population. A total number of 135 subjects of both sexes were grouped as Group-􀇿 (CVD cases) and Group-II (Healthy controls). Group-I include 85 cases of which 59 were ischaemic cerebrovascular diseases (ICVD) and 26 were haemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases (HCVD). By taking the history and doing clinical examination and laboratory investigations, diabetes mellitus, malignant disease, renal disease, liver disease and diuretic medication were excluded from study subjects. Serum non-HDL cholesterol was measured in all study subjects. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS for windows version 12.0. Mean values of the findings were compared between groups. One way ANOVA test and multiple comparison (Bonferroni‘t’) test were used to see the level of significance. Results: Serum non-HDL cholesterol found significantly increased in CVD, ICVD and HCVD cases in comparison to control subjects. But ICVD and HCVD cases did not differ with respect to serum non-HDLcholesterol. Conclusion: The result shows that elevated non-HDL cholesterol is associated with CVD. Prospective study with large sample size is required to evaluate the elevated Non-HDL cholesterol as a risk factor of CVD.