Treatment Options in AF Patients with Cancer; Focus on Catheter Ablation

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine Vol. 11; no. 15; p. 4452
• Main Authors: Garibaldi, Silvia, Chianca, Michela, Fabiani, Iacopo, Emdin, Michele, Piacenti, Marcello, Passino, Claudio, Aimo, Alberto, Fedele, Antonella, Cipolla, Carlo Maria, Cardinale, Daniela Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 30.07.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Ablation; Anticoagulants; anticoagulation; atrial fibrillation; cancer; Cancer therapies; Cardiac arrhythmia; cardio-oncology; Catheters; Clinical medicine; Drug interactions; Life expectancy; Medical diagnosis; Mortality; pulmonary vein isolation ablation; Radiation; Review; Stroke; Thromboembolism; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154452

Longer life expectancy along with advancements in cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF) therapies and treatment strategies have led to an increase in the number of individuals with both diseases. As a result, the complicated management of these patients has become crucial, necessitating individualised treatment that considers the bi-directional relationship between these two diseases. On the one hand, giving appropriate pharmaceutical therapy is exceptionally difficult, considering the recognised thromboembolic risk posed by AF and malignancy, as well as the haemorrhagic risk posed by cancer. The alternative pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation, on the other hand, has been inadequately explored in the cancer patient population; there is yet inadequate data to allow the clinician to unambiguously select patients that can undertake this therapeutic intervention. The goal of this review is to compile the most valuable data and supporting evidence about the characteristics, care, and therapy of cancer patients with AF. Specifically, we will evaluate the pharmaceutical options for a proper anticoagulant therapy, as well as the feasibility and safety of PVI in this population.