Atrial fibrillation with low cardioembolic risk and ischemic cerebrovascular accidents

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent disease in hypertensive patients over the age of 60. Although a large proportion of patients have symptoms related to this arrhythmia, some asymptomatic patients may experience cerebrovascular accidents as the only clinical manifestation. It is very important for clinicians to have a clear understanding of the tools, scales and specific information required for performing an appropriate assessment of patients with atrial fibrillation, in order to prevent its complications. We present the case of a male patient with atrial fibrillation and a low risk of ischemic cardiovascular accidents, whose implanted event monitor showed no evidence of arrhythmias for over one year, and who developed an ischemic CVA in multiple cerebral territories, with subsequent documentation of a thrombus in the left atrial appendage.