Atrial fibrillation treated with left atrial appendage closure was associated with ischemic strokes that were less severe than those among similar patients treated with direct oral anticoagulation.
The phase 3 OCEANIC-AF trial of the factor XI inhibitor asundexian (Bayer) has been stopped early owing to inferior efficacy vs apixaban in preventing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with AF.
Further details from the phase 2b AZALEA trial of the factor XI inhibitor abelacimab show significant reductions in major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding vs rivaroxaban for patients with AF.
Further analyses from the ARTESIA study and the previous NOAH-AFNET 6 trial are needed to try to identify groups where the benefit may outweigh the risk, researchers say.