Embolic Cerebrovascular Accident Secondary to Device-Related Thrombus Post WATCHMAN Device Implantation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias encountered. Aggressive and appropriate management, along with identification and modification of risk factors, remains at the forefront of evidence-based practice. Thrombus formation (primarily in the left atrial appendage) and consequent thromboembolism are risks associated with AF. Anticoagulation is utilized to prevent and reduce AF-induced complications such as stroke, heart failure, and death. However, in instances when the risk of bleeding from anticoagulation outweighs the benefits of stroke prevention, other modalities such as left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) devices like the WATCHMAN device (Boston Scientific, MA) are utilized. LAAC devices, such as the WATCHMAN device, are also not without significant risks, one of them being device-related thrombus (DRT) formation. We present a case of device-related thrombus formation post WATCHMAN implantation and a subsequent embolic cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

Warfarin-Related Nephropathy Manifested as Diffuse Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis.

Warfarin is associated with anticoagulant-related nephropathy (ARN), one of the potential side effects. This is evidenced by a progressively increasing number of detected cases of deterioration in the kidney function even in patients with normal baseline function (GFR {glomerular filtration rate}) in addition to the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are already vulnerable to ARN. There has been a clinical correlation in a rapid decline of kidney function and international normalized ratio (INR) levels of greater than three. ARN is a significant but underdiagnosed complication of anticoagulation that is associated with increased renal morbidity and all-cause mortality. We want to emphasize the importance of monitoring kidney function regularly and adjusting the appropriate doses of warfarin. We present a case of a 57-year-old female who was on warfarin for the mechanical aortic valve, presented with acute kidney injury and supratherapeutic INR. Her renal biopsy showed diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.