ASK THE DOCTOR A-fib raises risk of blood clot, stroke

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 66-year-old male. I had my mitral valve replaced almost nine years ago with bovine tissue. While waiting for my surgery, I had an episode of atrial fibrillation, which was corrected with amiodarone. I continued the drug for three years until a new cardiologist took me off it.

A year and half ago, I went into A-fib again and got electrical cardioversion. It returned a month later and the process was repeated. At that time, I went back on 200 mg of amiodarone a day, and have been fine for over a year now. I was put on warfarin and then Eliquis to prevent clots.

I asked my doctor why I need blood thinners if my heart is in sinus rhythm, and she said it is because I could have A-fib episodes without outward symptoms. Aside from cost ($100 a month), my main complaint is this: I also have back and knee problems, and NSAIDs, which I cannot take on the blood thinner, offer the best relief. Acetaminophen is useless, and even tramadol isn’t as effective.

M.H.

Answer: Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that dramatically raises the risk of blood clot and stroke. Most people with atrial fibrillation need treatment to reduce the likelihood of stroke. Whether and when to stop anticoagulation after the atrial fibrillation is resolved is an unanswered question.

If your doctor were 100% sure you haven’t gone back into atrial fibrillation in the past year, then it would be appropriate to stop the Eliquis anticoagulation, since there is a small increased risk of abnormal bleeding on any anticoagulant. That risk is increased with chronic use of an NSAID, such as ibuprofen. However, you have been in A-fib three times now, and many cardiologists feel the risk of stroke if you go back into A-fib is greater than the bleeding risk of continuing the Eliquis.

She could decide to use a heart monitor to examine your heart rhythm for a period of time. If you have no episodes of atrial fibrillation, the medicine could be stopped. However, there is still a small risk of stroke due to unrecognized atrial fibrillation.

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