Predictors of intracardiac thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation: Factors of hemostasis, markers of inflammation, and genetic factors

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Many patients with nonvalvular AF have substantial rates of stroke and thromboembolism. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a common source of cardiac thrombus formation associated with systemic embolism. Recent findings have suggested a link between inflammatory and haemostatic disturbance and genesis of the LAA thrombus. In this review, we describe the genetic variations probably involved in the pathogenesis of LAA thrombosis, their functional implications, and their association with thromboembolic risk. We consider polymorphisms in coagulation factors and the inflammatory markers.