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Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Multiple left ventricular thrombi in a patient with left ventricular noncompaction.
Cihan Cevik1, Nishant Shah, James M Wilson
1Department of Adult Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ccevik@sleh.com
Texas Heart Institute Journal
|September 6, 2012
Summary
Myocardial noncompaction can lead to heart failure and blood clots. Even with aspirin, patients with severe noncompaction may need anticoagulation to prevent thromboembolic events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Myocardial noncompaction is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by prominent trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses.
- Clinical manifestations include heart failure, arrhythmias, and thromboembolic events due to stagnant blood flow.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old woman with symptoms of heart failure due to left ventricular noncompaction presented with multiple left ventricular thrombi.
- These thrombi formed despite long-term aspirin therapy, highlighting a potential limitation of antiplatelet agents in this condition.
Findings:
- Left ventricular noncompaction is associated with an increased risk of thrombus formation.
- Severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction in noncompaction may necessitate anticoagulation beyond antiplatelet therapy.
Implications:
- Patients with myocardial noncompaction and risk factors for thromboembolism (e.g., atrial fibrillation, systemic embolism history, severe LV dysfunction) should be considered for anticoagulative therapy.
- Chronic antiplatelet therapy alone may be insufficient for preventing clot formation in specific patient subgroups with myocardial noncompaction.
Keywords:
Cardiomy-opathies/complications/diagnosis/drug therapyechocardiographyheart ventricles/abnormalitiesmyocardium/pathologyventricular dysfunction, left/ultrasonographyMore Related Videos
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