[Antithrombotic therapy in atrial arrhythmia].

The principal complication of the atrial arrythmias is the thrombo-embolic accident, notably the cerebro-vascular accident. The efficacity of the oral anticoagulants in reducing cerebro-vascular accidents has been demonstrated in numerous studies. This is significantly superior to that obtained with the anti-platelet drugs. However, the anti-vitamin K drugs (warfarin) carry a risk of serious haemorrhage of around 5% per year. This restricts the proposal of this treatment to patients with an elevated risk of vascular accidents: age, diabetes, previous cerebro-vascular accidents, and cardiac failure are the risk factors. Nevertheless, the risk of haemorrhage is responsible for an under prescription of the anticoagulants in the elderly. This explains the interest aroused by alternative therapeutics: the results of trials on ximelagatran, a direct anti-thrombin, are promising. In patients with an arrythmia, cardioversion carries a thrombo-embolic risk of around 1%. This risk is reduced by prior anticoagulant treatment. The procedure for this treatment is orientated by a trans-oesophageal echocardiogram. The incertitude of the duration of anticoagulant therapy without cardioversion calls for respect of the arrythmia. The treatment of this is limited to control of the cardiac rhythm and anticoagulant treatment.