Med Klin
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Review Comparative Study
[Anticoagulation in cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Current status and outlook for the future].
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmias with increasing incidence in the elderly. The increased morbidity associated with atrial fibrillation is mainly caused by cardiac emboli, mostly from the left atrial appendage, that may cause cerebral ischemic infarctions. Although electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation has been the standard therapy for restoration of sinus rhythm for many years, questions regarding the optimal anticoagulation for the prevention of thromboembolic complications remain unanswered. ⋯ Low molecular weight heparins allow outpatient therapy because no intravenous therapy initiation is necessary and the need for anticoagulation monitoring is reduced. Whether oral thrombin antagonists may increase the safety of chronic anticoagulation because of their higher therapeutic index compared to warfarin has to be determined in future studies.
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Comparative Study
[Determination of plasma iron -- useful, superfluous, or misleading?].