Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with atrial fibrillation documented with standard 12-lead ECG documented atrial fibrillation on the day of screening or randomization * Patients with age ≥ 18 years * Patients with moderate or severe mitral stenosis, i.e. mitral valvular area (MVA) ≤ 2.5cm2 * Patients should be able to provide a written informed consent * Patients should have all 4 inclusion-criteria fulfilled to be qualified for the study Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with mechanical prosthetic valve, or with active endocarditis * Patients with planned valvular intervention within 1 year * Patients with left atrial appendage occlusive device * Patients with planned AF ablation * Unexplained anemia (haemoglobin level \< 10g/dL) or thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 100x10\*9/L) * Need for anticoagulant therapy of disorders other than atrial fibrillation * Patients receiving antiplatelet therapy for disorders other than atrial fibrillation * Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \> 180mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \> 100mmHg) * Estimated creatinine clearance ≤ 30mL/min * Liver dysfunction of Child Pugh stage B or C * Women who are pregnant or of childbearing potential who refuse to use a medically acceptable form of contraception throughout the study * Patients considered unreliable by the investigator or have a life expectancy less than 1 year because of concomitant disease, or has any condition, which in the opinion of the investigator, would not allow safe participation in the study (e.g. drug addiction, alcohol abuse)