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Left Ventricular Thrombus in the Setting of Normal Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Crohn's Disease
Ravi Rasalingam1, Ibrahim M Saeed2,3, Pamela K Woodard4
1Division of Cardiology, Boston Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Insights
Crohn's disease can cause blood clots, but cardiac involvement is rare. This study highlights two cases where left ventricular apical thrombus occurred without typical heart abnormalities in Crohn's patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology
Background:
- Crohn's disease is associated with a hypercoagulable state, increasing risks of thromboembolism.
- Cardiac involvement in Crohn's disease is not commonly recognized or routinely screened for.
Observation:
- Two cases of Crohn's disease patients with left ventricular apical thrombus are presented.
- These patients did not exhibit the typical echocardiographic findings associated with left ventricular thrombus.
Findings:
- Left ventricular apical thrombi can occur in Crohn's disease patients without reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.
- The presence of left ventricular apical thrombus in Crohn's disease may not correlate with wall motion abnormalities.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider cardiac evaluation in Crohn's disease patients presenting with thromboembolic events.
- This finding challenges the established association between left ventricular apical thrombus and cardiac dysfunction.
Abstract:
Crohn's disease results in a hypercoagulable state increasing the risk of venous or arterial thromboembolism. Cardiac involvement has not been routinely identified. Two cases are presented to illustrate that patients with Crohn's disease may represent an exception to the rule that left ventricular apical thrombus should be associated with an underlying wall motion abnormality and reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction.
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