Effect of heart rate control on coagulation status in patients of rheumatic mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation – A pilot study

Systemic thromboembolism is a major complication in patients of mitral stenosis (MS) with atrial fibrillation (AF) due to induction of hypercoagulable state. The aim was to assess the relationship, if any, between control of ventricular rate and systemic coagulation factors. 70 patients of moderate to severe MS in AF were studied. 35 patients with average heart rate >100 beats/min over a 24 hour period assessed by Holter monitoring were...