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Published on: September 9, 2012
Treatment of massive cardiac thrombi in a patient with protein C and protein S deficiency
F Ayşenur Paç1, Deniz N Cağdaş
1Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Patients with myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy and protein deficiencies experienced intracardiac thrombi. Anticoagulation therapy successfully resolved thrombi without complications, suggesting routine screening for hemostatic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy involve cardiac chamber dilation and reduced systolic function.
- Intracardiac thrombi can be a serious complication in these conditions.
Observation:
- A patient presented with myocarditis/dilated cardiomyopathy, Protein C and S deficiency, and biventricular thrombi.
- Treatment involved heparin infusion and acetylsalicylic acid.
Findings:
- Complete resolution of right ventricular thrombus by day 10.
- Complete resolution of left ventricular thrombi by day 24.
- No observed complications like hemorrhage or embolism during treatment.
Implications:
- Suggests evaluating patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis for hemostatic disorders.
- Highlights the potential benefit of anticoagulation in such patients.
- Supports the need for tailored treatment strategies considering coagulation status.
Abstract:
Myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by dilatation of all four cardiac chambers and decreased systolic function of the heart, especially in the left ventricle. In this report we presented a patient with myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy and deficiency of protein C and protein S with biventricular multiple intracardiac thrombi. Standard heparin infusion and acetyl salicylic acid was begun. On the 10th day of hospitalization the right ventricular thrombus disappeared, and on the 24th day all thrombi in the left ventricle disappeared. During the treatment we did not observe any complication such as hemorrhagia or embolism. We think that patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis should be evaluated for hemostatic disorders, and should be anticoagulated if any of these disorders are presented.
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