Summary
Atrial fibrillation is a very common condition that significantly increase the risk of stroke, especially in the older population. Vitamin K antagonists are the only current effective treatment in the higher risk population to reduce stroke. Any new treatment has a huge potential to help reduce risk, and there is nothing else on the horizon to treat this condition.
Analysis
Warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists are the only proven treatments to limit stroke in high risk patients with atrial fibrillation. This new mechanical device is not perfect. It has procedural risk and a learning curve for the implanters. It only will prevent a portion of strokes associated with atrial fibrillation (but then, warfarin doesn't prevent all strokes either).
However, it does not require constant monitoring which makes it a much better choice for patients who do not have access to the high quality anti-coagulation clinics needed to do warfarin safely. For patients who are not prescribed warfarin because of bleeding or fall risks, there currently is no other choice of effective treatment.
Given the high incidence of atrial fibrillation, the paucity of choices in preventing strokes and the need for more effective therapy, I expect this device to grab a significant market presence once the training issues are worked out.
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
