Int J Arrhythm.  2022 Sep;23(3):21. 10.1186/s42444-022-00071-1.

Non‑vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in adults with congenital heart disease

• Ban J

• KMID: 2534095
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s42444-022-00071-1

Abstract

Despite an improved survival rate, cardiovascular accidents including thromboembolic events are a common cause of death in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Therefore, many adult patients with CHD require long-term oral anticoagulants depending on disease complexity, atrial tachyarrhythmia, residual intracardiac shunt, ventricular dys‑ function, and the presence of a prosthetic valve. Although prevention of stroke and pulmonary embolism has tradi‑ tionally been managed with vitamin K antagonists (VKA), recent guidelines suggest the use of non-vitamin K antago‑ nist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with adult CHD presenting with atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, or pulmonary embolism. NOACs are an efficient alternative to VKA with reduced bleeding propensity, relatively low dietary and drug interactions, and the potential to eliminate the need for international normalized ratio monitoring in patients with nonvalvular AF. Recently, several multicenter studies reported the indication for thromboprophylaxis and the potential role of NOACs in adult CHD patients. In this review, we aim to assess the efficacy and safety of NOACs in adult CHD patients and to pursue adequate anticoagulation strategies in this special population.

Keyword

Anticoagulants; Adult congenital heart disease