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©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Cardiol. Jun 26, 2012; 4(6): 195-200
Published online Jun 26, 2012. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v4.i6.195
Published online Jun 26, 2012. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v4.i6.195
Risk stratification of patients with atrial fibrillation: Biomarkers and other future perspectives
Rui Providência, Luís Paiva, Sérgio Barra, Department of Cardiology, Coimbra’s Hospital Centre and University, 3041-801 S.Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Portugal
Rui Providência, Coimbra’s Medical School, University of Coimbra, 3041-801 S.Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Portugal
Author contributions: Providência R wrote the draft version of the paper; Paiva L and Barra S provided further ideas for improving the paper; and all authors wrote the final version of the paper.
Correspondence to: Rui Providência, MD, MSc, Department of Cardiology, Coimbra’s Hospital Centre and University, Quinta dos Vales, 3041-801 S.Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Portugal. rui_providencia@yahoo.com
Telephone: +351-239-800100 Fax: +351-239-445737
Received: June 6, 2012
Revised: June 9, 2012
Accepted: June 16, 2012
Published online: June 26, 2012
Revised: June 9, 2012
Accepted: June 16, 2012
Published online: June 26, 2012
Abstract
Risk stratification of atrial fibrillation (AF) and adequate thromboembolism prophylaxis is the cornerstone of treatment in patients with AF. Current risk stratification schemes such as the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are based on clinical risk factors and suboptimally weight the risk/benefit of anticoagulation. Recently, the potential of biomarkers (troponin and NT-proBNP) in the RE-LY biomarker sub-analysis has been demonstrated. Echocardiography is also being evaluated as a possible approach to improve risk score performance. The authors present an overview on AF risk stratification and discuss future potential developments that may be introduced into our current risk stratification schemes.