Objectives : The aim of study was to evaluate the relationship of CHA2DS2-VASc scores with left atrial (LA) thrombus and to investigate clinical characteristic predictor of LA thrombus in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF).
Methods: A total of 430 patients with NVAF were retrospectively investigated. Only 15% of the patients had international normalized ratio (INR) >2 at the time of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE). LA appendage flow velocity and volume index (LAVI) were calculated from echocardiography images.
Results: The prevalence of LA thrombus increased with ascending CHA2DS2-VASc score (score 0 [0%], 1 [1.5%], 2? [6.4%]) in 229 patients with paroxysmal AF and it also increased with ascending CHA2DS2-VASc score (scores 0 [11.4%], 1 [4.3%], 2? [27.7%]) in 201patients with chronic AF. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, slower LAA flow velocity and greater LAVI were significantly associated with the presence of LA thrombus.
Conclusions: The prevalence of LA thrombus could occur with greater frequency in patients with chronic NVAF. LA appendage flow velocity and LAVI rather than CHA2DS2-VASc scores played important roles in LA thrombogenic circumstance in patients with NVAF.