Thrombosis

Rationale

The 2023 ACC/AHA guideline on atrial fibrillation (AF) provides critical context for systemic arterial thromboembolism, which was missing from the general description of thrombosis. AF-related thrombi represent a unique clinical intersection where stasis (a classic venous-type mechanism) leads to arterial embolic events. This addition enhances the clinical relevance of the section while adhering to abbreviation and citation rules.

Evidence

Content Changes

Arterial thrombosis is platelet-driven, while venous thrombosis is fibrin-rich. Both involve the coagulation cascade and interplay between clotting factors and endothelium. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major source of systemic arterial thromboembolism, where stasis, particularly in the left atrial appendage, leads to thrombus formation [@aha2023]. Pulmonary embolism (PE) arises from embolization of venous thrombi [@rutherford2018-rutherford].