Rivaroxaban for Periprocedural Anticoagulation Therapy in Japanese Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation of Paroxysmal Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been shown to be safe and effective for the prevention of stroke in non valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients, however, experience with peri-AF ablation management of DOACs is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of periprocedural anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban in Japanese patients undergoing paroxysmal non-valvular AF (NVAF) ablation using radiofrequency energy. This study was a multicenter, prospective pilot study. In paroxysmal NVAF patients, rivaroxaban (15 mg or 10 mg once-daily) was started at least 4 weeks prior to AF ablation, discontinued on the day of the procedure, resumed within 24 hours after ablation, and continued at least 3 months afterwards. During the interruption of rivaroxaban, bridging anticoagulation therapy with unfractionated heparin was given. Follow-up of the patients continued for 3 months. A total of consecutive 74 patients (mean age, 62 9 years, 58 [78.4%] male) were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 108 79 days. Their mean CHADS(2) score and CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score were 1.2 +/- 1.0 and 0.6 +/- 0.7, respectively. Their mean HAS-BLED score was 1.0 +/- 0.8. Neither major bleeding nor thromboembolic events, except in a case with bleeding from gastric cancer (1.4%), were observed in the periprocedural period of the AF ablation. The present multicenter study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of periprocedural anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban in Japanese patients undergoing catheter ablation of paroxysmal NVAF.