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Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Idiopathic massive left ventricular thrombus in HIV patient
Natalie Homer1, Luke Sheen, Richard Lee
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Northwestern University, 201 East Huron Street, Suite 11-140, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Natalie-Homer@fsm.northwestern.edu
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
|July 6, 2012
Summary
A stroke patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) had a large left-ventricular thrombus removed surgically. This case suggests a link between HIV and cardiac thrombus formation, requiring further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with various cardiovascular complications.
- Cerebrovascular events, such as stroke, can occur in HIV-positive individuals.
- Left-ventricular thrombus formation is a known risk factor for systemic embolism and stroke.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old male patient with a history of HIV presented with symptoms of a stroke.
- Cardiac imaging identified a significant, mobile thrombus within the left ventricle.
- The patient underwent surgical resection of the left-ventricular thrombus via a minimally invasive ventriculotomy.
Findings:
- Successful surgical removal of the large left-ventricular thrombus was achieved.
- The patient demonstrated a favorable early postoperative recovery.
- The likely etiology of the thrombus was attributed to the underlying HIV pathology.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential association between HIV and the development of left-ventricular thrombi.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking HIV to cardiac thrombus formation.
- Clinicians should consider cardiac evaluation for thrombus in HIV-positive patients presenting with stroke.
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