transthoracic echo/Doppler aids in the prediction of the presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast and the identification of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation with increased cardioembolic risk, thus avoiding transoesophageal echocardiography.

In this study we determined the prevalence of hemostatic hyperactivity in patients with recent cerebral ischemia and its relation to the presence of chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT) and prothrombin fragments 1+2 (F1+2) were used as hemostatic parameters and were studied in four groups of 14 patients each: patients with or without recent cerebral ischemia, and with or without chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Irrespective of their cardiac rhythm, patients with recent cerebral ischemia showed significantly higher F1+2 levels than patients without signs of previous cerebral ischemic events (median 1.16 vs. 0.96 nmol/1; p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the TAT levels in the different groups. A higher level of hemostatic activity was found in the patients over 70 years of age compared to those younger than 70 years.

No abstract