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Updated: May 11, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: do not ignore cardiac involvement]
Introduction:
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy due to ADAMTS13 deficiency (a von Willebrand factor's metalloprotease) with multiple organs' involvement, one of which may be the heart.
Case Report:
We report a 29-year-old woman who presented a TTP during her last trimester of pregnancy, under the features of a HELLP syndrome. After caesarean section, cardiac involvement was revealed by chest pain, ECG changes, antero-septal hypokinesia and troponin rise. Cardiac MRI found no large-vessel ischemic heart disease and confirmed hypokinesia.
Conclusion:
When TTP is diagnosed, cardiac involvement must be systematically investigated by ECG and troponin assay because of the risk of a cardiac arrest.
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