Is the risk of stroke in permanent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation really the same? Therein lies the dilemma.

: The article reviews the rate of embolic risk in permanent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation reported in the current literature. The data analyzed suggest that the embolic risk in the two forms of atrial fibrillation is different and therefore careful clinical judgment is needed to offer patients tailored anticoagulation treatments.