The risk factors of thrombus formation and the effect of catheter ablation on repetitive thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation: a single center retrospective study in China

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) predisposes patients to the formation of atrial thrombi. The CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score does not include all risk factors for atrial thrombosis. The present study is designed to explore the influencing factors of thrombus formation in patients with AF and to investigate the effect of catheter ablation (CA) on recurrent thrombosis in patients with a history of intracardiac thrombus. METHODS: (1) This study consisted of 1726 patients that underwent CA, among which 58 patients had a history of intracardiac thrombus prior to CA. The risk factors for thrombus formation were explored by comparing the baseline clinical characteristics of patients with and without atrial thrombus. (2) The left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAAFV) in patients with a history of intracardiac thrombus who were willing to undergo transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at the latest follow-up were examined, and comparisons of the LAAFV was made before and after CA. RESULTS: The median follow-up period is 13 months. Persistent AF was found to be the only independent risk factor affecting the formation of atrial thrombus among the investigated factors (OR 3.152; 95%CI 1.806–5.500; p < 0.001). Twenty-seven patients agreed to undergo TEE during follow-up, no clinical ischemic stroke events were recorded, no recurrent intracardiac thrombus formation was detected in patients, 15 patients maintained sinus rhythm (55.6%) during follow-up; successful CA significantly increased LAAFV (difference between latest evaluation prior to CA 17.46 ± 14.81 cm/s, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent AF is the only independent risk factor for thrombus formation. Successful CA may improve the LAAFV and thereby decrease the risk of intracardiac thrombus formation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-023-03050-z.