Apixaban Versus Warfarin for the Management of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation

Apixaban Versus Warfarin for the Management of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation: a Prospective, Controlled, Randomized Pilot Study

In this open-label, prospective, randomized pilot study, patients who develop atrial fibrillation after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery will be identified. Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (>12 hours) or recurrent sustained atrial fibrillation (>2 episodes of atrial fibrillation lasting longer than 30 minutes) will be candidates for inclusion. Upon meeting study inclusion and exclusion criteria, and after informed consent, patients will be randomized to either the standard of care (warfarin per protocol) or apixaban arms of the trial. Routine postoperative care after CABG will occur in both groups. Upon discharge, anticoagulation in both groups will be managed by the anticoagulation clinic. Patients will be followed for 30 days after surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Signed Written Informed Consent
• Patients diagnosed with new-onset persistent or recurrent atrial fibrillation after isolated CABG surgery. Persistent atrial fibrillation is defined as an episode of >12 hours. Recurrent atrial fibrillation is defined as two or more episodes of atrial fibrillation lasting longer than 30 minutes.
• Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of study drug. Patients undergoing isolated CABG must have this tested and documented prior to the procedure, and this will be verified prior to randomization.
• Women must not be breastfeeding.
• WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug(s): 30 days of treatment plus 5 half-lives of study drug Apixaban (3 days) or warfarin (8 days) plus 30 days (duration of ovulatory cycle) for a total of 38 days post-treatment completion.
• Males who are sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug(s): 30 days of treatment plus 5 half-lives of study drug Apixaban (3 days) or warfarin (8 days) plus 90 days (duration of sperm turnover) for a total of 98 days post-treatment completion.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Atrial fibrillation due to a reversible cause other than recent surgery
• Patients diagnosed with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation chronically before undergoing surgery
• Patients with mechanical heart valves
• Patients currently experiencing active bleeding precluding initialization of anticoagulation therapy in the opinion of their managing physician, or with increased bleeding risk (as determined by the attending surgeon) believed to be a contraindication to anticoagulation at the time of randomization Planned major surgery requiring stoppage of anticoagulation therapy during trial period
• Stroke within the previous 7 days
• Moderate or severe mitral stenosis
• Conditions other than atrial fibrillation that required anticoagulation (prosthetic mechanical heart valve)
• Patients taking warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or enoxaparin at home for any indication in the 15 days prior to surgery
• Patients requiring the use of clopidogrel or ticagrelor during the study period
• Severe renal insufficiency (serum creatinine level of >2.5 mg/dL or CrCL<25 ml/min) for consecutive measurements
• Allergies to warfarin or apixaban, or components of warfarin or apixaban