[Prethrombus acute constitution during dobutamine stress echocardiography]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Thrombosis Research

Background:

• Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a common non-invasive test.
• While generally safe, DSE has known complications.
• Acute thrombus formation during DSE is an undescribed event.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel complication of DSE: acute thrombus formation.
• To highlight the potential for a prethrombotic state during DSE.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 64-year-old male with ischemic heart disease.
• Performance of a preoperative dobutamine stress echocardiography.
• Observation of thrombus formation and resolution using echocardiography.

Main Results:

• A massive, highly mobile thrombus acutely formed adjacent to the infero-apical segment during DSE.
• The thrombus spontaneously resolved within minutes after the cessation of the stress test.
• This represents the first described instance of acute thrombus constitution during DSE.

Conclusions:

• Acute thrombus formation is a potential, albeit rare, complication of dobutamine stress echocardiography.
• The findings suggest DSE may induce a transient prethrombotic state.
• Further investigation into DSE-induced prothrombotic mechanisms may be warranted.