Erratum to "Twice- or once-daily dosing of direct oral anticoagulants and gastrointestinal bleeding in patient with atrial fibrillation" [Am. Heart J. Plus: Cardiol. Res. Pract. Volume 22, October 2022, 100203].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.

Twice- or once-daily dosing of direct oral anticoagulants and gastrointestinal bleeding in patient with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) is widely used for the prevention of embolic stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. However, the gastrointestinal bleeding risk in several DOAC regimens was higher than warfarin, especially in once-daily regimens.

Methods And Results: We conducted a single-center prospective registry of patients with NVAF treated with DOACs: the DIRECT registry (N = 2216; follow-up duration 650 [IQR 103-1574] days, UMIN000033283).

Sex Differences in the Efficacy of Pulmonary Vein Isolation Alone vs. Extensive Catheter Ablation in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Women experience more severe arrhythmogenic substrates. This study hypothesized that an extensive ablation strategy, such as linear ablation and/or complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) ablation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI-plus), might be effective for women, whereas the PVI alone strategy (PVI-alone) might be sufficient for men to maintain sinus rhythm. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis.

Comparison of Low-Dose Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Patients <80 Versus ≥80 Years of Age With Atrial Fibrillation.

Evidence on the efficacy and safety of low-dose direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) in older patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is still scarce. We conducted a single-center prospective registry of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation treated with DOACs: the DIRECT registry (n = 2,216; follow-up, 407 ± 388 days, UMIN000033283). The whole population was divided into 2 groups: the older group (age ≥80 years, n = 548) versus the younger group (age <80 years, n = 1,668).

Sex-related difference in bleeding and thromboembolic risks in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with direct oral anticoagulants.

Background: Sex-related difference in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is still to be investigated. We aimed to investigate sex difference in patient characteristics and clinical outcomes of the NVAF patients treated with DOAC in the real-world Japanese clinical practice.

Methods And Results: We conducted a single-center prospective observational registry of NVAF patients treated with DOACs: the DIRECT registry (women, N = 806; men, N = 1410; follow-up duration, 407 ± 388 days).

The efficacy and safety of left atrial low-voltage area guided ablation for recurrence prevention compared to pulmonary vein isolation alone in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation trial: Design and rationale.

Recurrence rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are higher in patients with a left atrial low-voltage area (LVA) than those without. However, the efficacy of LVA guided ablation is still unknown. The purpose of this study-the Efficacy and Safety of Left Atrial Low-voltage Area Guided Ablation for Recurrence Prevention Compared to Pulmonary Vein Isolation Alone in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation trial (SUPPRESS-AF trial)-is to elucidate whether LVA guided ablation in addition to PVI is superior to PVI alone in patients with persistent AF.

Efficacy of Extensive Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation With Trigger-Based vs. Substrate-Based Mechanisms - A Prespecified Subanalysis of the EARNEST-PVI Trial.

Background: Extensive ablation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) would be effective for modification of non-pulmonary vein (non-PV) substrates, whereas PVI might be sufficient for elimination of PV triggers. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that in patients with reproducible atrial fibrillation (AF) triggered by premature atrial contractions originating only from PVs, PVI alone can be sufficient to maintain sinus rhythm.

Methods and results: This study is a prespecified subanalysis of the EARNEST-PVI randomized controlled trial.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes Between Combination Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapy and Anticoagulant Monotherapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrial Thrombi.

Anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) complicated by left atrial thrombi (LAT) is a frequent cause of bleeding complications, but risk factors remain unknown. Of 3,139 AF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, 82 with LAT under anticoagulation were included in this study. Patients treated with combination antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy (n=31) were compared with those receiving anticoagulant monotherapy (n=51) to investigate the effects of antiplatelet agents during anticoagulation on bleeding complications.

Impact of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Off-Label Reduced Dose in Combination With Antiplatelet Agents on Clinical Outcome - Propensity Score-Matching Analysis From the DIRECT Real-World Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

The association between direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) dose and clinical outcomes when used with antiplatelets still remains to be investigated. We conducted a prospective registry of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with DOAC: the DIRECT registry (n=2,216; follow-up, 407±388 days). We analyzed patients taking standard dose (n=907) and off-label reduced dose (n=338) DOAC in this sub-analysis.

Comparable neointimal healing in patients with stable coronary lesions and acute coronary syndrome: 3-month optical coherence tomography analysis.

We aimed to assess a possible difference of the neointimal coverage status and its quality after implantation of the current-generation metallic stents in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) vs. stable coronary lesions (non-ACS). We comprehensively analyzed three prospective single-center observational studies RESTORE (UMIN000033009), HEAL-BioFreedom (UMIN000029692), and HEAL-BioFreedom ACS (UMIN000034769).

Quantitative Validation of the Coronary Angioscopic Yellow Plaque with Lipid Core Burden Index Assessed by Intracoronary Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

Aim: We aimed to validate the subjective and qualitative angioscopic findings by the objective and quantitative near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) assessment to compensate each other's drawbacks.

Methods: This is a single-center prospective observational study. Patients undergoing a planned follow-up coronary angiography after percutaneous coronary intervention were prospectively enrolled from January 2018 to April 2019.

Clinical outcomes of ablation versus non-ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation in Japan: analysis of pooled data from the AF Frontier Ablation Registry and SAKURA AF Registry.

Whether ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is, in terms of clinical outcomes, beneficial for Japanese patients has not been clarified. Drawing data from 2 Japanese AF registries (AF Frontier Ablation Registry and SAKURA AF Registry), we compared the incidence of clinically relevant events (CREs), including stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), major bleeding, cardiovascular events, and death, between patients who underwent ablation (n = 3451) and those who did not (n = 2930). We also compared propensity-score matched patients (n = 1414 in each group).

Pulmonary vein isolation alone vs. more extensive ablation with defragmentation and linear ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation: the EARNEST-PVI trial.

Aims: Previous studies could not demonstrate any benefit of more intensive ablation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) including complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) and linear ablation for recurrence in the initial catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to establish the non-inferiority of PVI alone to PVI plus these additional ablation strategies.

Methods And Results: Patients with persistent AF who underwent an initial catheter ablation (n = 512, long-standing persistent AF; 128 cases) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either PVI alone (PVI-alone group) or PVI plus CFAE and/or linear ablation (PVI-plus group).

Clinical Outcomes of Off-Label Underdosing of Direct Oral Anticoagulants After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are sometimes prescribed at off-label under-doses for patients who have undergone ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). This practice may be an attempt to balance the risk of bleeding against that of stroke or AF recurrence.We examined outcomes of 1163 patients who continued use of a DOAC after ablation.

Dose of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Adverse Outcomes in Asia.

The present study aimed to assess the associations between dosing of DOACs and outcomes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) require dose adjustment according to patient or clinical factors for patients with NVAF. We conducted a single-center prospective registry of NVAF patients with DOACs: DIRECT registry (UMIN000033283).

Recurrent Fulminant Myocarditis Accompanied by Lymphoid Follicle Formation in Myocardium.

A 76-year-old man developed repeated fulminant myocarditis in a short period, and immunosuppressive therapy was remarkably effective. A pathologic evaluation showed that inflammatory cells had infiltrated the myocardium. Not only invasion of inflammatory cells but also the formation of lymphoid follicle was noted.

Persistent Systemic Inflammation Is Associated With Bleeding Risk in Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Background: This study investigated the impact of systemic inflammation on bleeding risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC).

Methods and results: We conducted a single-center prospective registry of 2,216 NVAF patients treated with DOAC: the DIRECT registry (UMIN000033283). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured ≤3 months before (pre-DOAC hsCRP) and 6±3 months after initiation of DOAC (post-DOAC hsCRP).

Impact of Preprocedural Serum Eicosapentaenoic Acid to Arachidonic Acid Ratio on Post-Ablation Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to arachidonic acid (AA) ratio on recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF).A total of 192 patients who underwent first-time radiofrequency CA for AF were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups based on the median serum EPA/AA ratio before CA: a LOW group (< 0.

Current Status and Clinical Outcomes of Oral Anticoagulant Discontinuation After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Japan - Findings From the AF Frontier Ablation Registry.

Background: The safety of discontinuing oral anticoagulant (OAC) after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Japanese patients has not been clarified.

Methods and results: A study based on the Atrial Fibrillation registry to Follow the long-teRm Outcomes and use of aNTIcoagulants aftER Ablation (AF Frontier Ablation Registry) was conducted. Data were collected from 3,451 consecutive patients (74.

External Validation of the ORBIT Bleeding Score and the HAS-BLED Score in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients Using Direct Oral Anticoagulants (Asian Data from the DIRECT Registry).

For Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), performance of contemporary various bleeding risk scores in a real-world setting is unknown. The objective of this study was to externally validate the ORBIT bleeding score and the HAS-BLED score in a large pooled real-world Asian population with NVAF using DOACs. We conducted a single-center prospective observational registry of NVAF patients treated with DOACs: the DIRECT registry (UMIN000033283).

Effect of Extensive Ablation on Recurrence in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Pulmonary Vein Isolation (EARNEST-PVI) trial: Design and rationale.

Background: Although extensive substrate modification in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been recommended in catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), recent randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated efficacy of such additional ablations.

Methods And Study Design: The Osaka Cardiovascular Conference will conduct a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial aiming to examine whether PVI alone is non-inferior to PVI plus additional ablation such as linear ablation and/or complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation in patients with persistent AF. The primary outcome is recurrence of AF documented by scheduled or symptom-driven electrocardiogram tests during a 1-year follow-up period after the index ablation.