AFFECT: a prospective, open-label, multicenter trial to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a short-term treatment with subcutaneous certoparin in patients with persistent non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) scheduled for electrical cardioversion need immediate anticoagulation. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is often used for early anticoagulation in these patients before oral anticoagulation becomes effective. However, dose adjustment is required to achieve a two- to three-fold prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin.