Do novel oral anticoagulant drugs used in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation act only as anticoagulants?

T. Çakmak, E. Çakmak, F. Balgetir, E. Yaşar, Y. Karakuş

Department of Cardiology, Balıkesir Atatürk City Hospital, Balıkesir, Turkey. tolgacakmak85@gmail.com

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• Cardiovascular Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Although inflammation has an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF), the effect of novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) used to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke and embolism on inflammation remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of NOAC, which have been shown to have anticoagulant properties, on inflammation and platelet reactivation, which have an important role in the pathogenesis of AF.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 530 patients, including 380 patients with nonvalvular AF using NOAC and 150 patients with nonvalvular AF who did not use any NOAC were included in the study. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was calculated as the ratio of absolute neutrophil count to absolute lymphocyte count. Mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values of both groups were assessed both on admission and at three-month follow-up.

RESULTS: When the complete blood count (CBC) changes of the groups included in the study were compared, the RDW, MPV, and NLR values showed a greater decrease in the NOAC group compared to the non-NOAC group (p=0.000 for all).

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the NOAC used in anticoagulation treatment do not only act as anticoagulants but also reduce inflammation and platelet reactivation, which have an important role in the pathogenesis of AF and thromboembolism.

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