Resolution of left ventricular thrombus with lepirudin after failed treatment with heparin

A 49-year-old man was admitted with high-risk left ventricular thrombosis and systemic embolization. Prompt and complete resolution of the thrombus was achieved under intravenous lepirudin administration but not under full-dose heparin treatment. Medical physicians, including emergency medicine physicians, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and hematologists, should become more aware of these alternative anticoagulant treatments, especially in cases when other therapeutic options (such as thrombolysis or cardiac surgery) may be associated with high morbidity or mortality.