Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 17, 2025
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with echocardiographic left ventricular spontaneous echo contrast
Dongjie Liang1, Ruiyu Shi1, Kenneth I Zheng2
1Department of Cardiology, The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Wenzhou, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, PR China.
Insights
Spontaneous echo contrast in the left ventricle (LV-SEC) is linked to a 12.9% embolism rate within a year. Key risk factors include age, atrial fibrillation, and hemoglobin levels, while anticoagulation therapy reduces risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Thromboembolic Disease
Background:
- Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is a recognized precursor to thrombus formation and thromboembolic events.
- Left ventricular spontaneous echo contrast (LV-SEC) requires further clinical characterization and outcome analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with LV-SEC.
- To determine the 1-year incidence of thromboembolic events in patients with LV-SEC.
- To identify risk factors associated with thromboembolic events and persistent LV-SEC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, single-center study of patients with consecutive echocardiograms from October 2009 to September 2019.
- Inclusion criteria: patients with LV-SEC. Exclusion criteria: left ventricular thrombus, infective endocarditis, prosthetic valves, loss to follow-up.
- Primary endpoint: 1-year incidence of thromboembolic events (stroke, peripheral embolism). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used for risk factor analysis.
Main Results:
- A total of 417 patients with LV-SEC were analyzed (mean age 63.5 years, 86.8% men).
- The 1-year incidence of embolism was 12.9%.
- Significant risk factors for thromboembolic events included older age, atrial fibrillation, higher hemoglobin, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Anticoagulant therapy was associated with reduced embolism risk. D-dimer and delta-LVEF were associated with persistent LV-SEC.
Conclusions:
- Patients with LV-SEC exhibit a high incidence of 1-year thromboembolic events.
- Age, atrial fibrillation, hemoglobin, and LVEF are independent risk factors for embolism.
- Anticoagulant therapy may reduce embolism risk, and D-dimer and delta-LVEF are associated with persistent LV-SEC.
Background:
Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is a known precursor to thrombus formation and thromboembolic events. This study aims to demonstrate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with left ventricular spontaneous echo contrast (LV-SEC).
Methods:
Patients with consecutive echocardiogram performed from October 2009 to September 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective, single-center study. Those with LV-SEC were included, while patients complicated by left ventricular thrombus, with history of infective endocarditis, prosthetic valves, or lost to follow-up were excluded. The clinical endpoint was 1-year thromboembolic events (i.e. stroke and peripheral embolism).
Results:
Among 417 patients (mean age 63.5 ± 14.7 years; 86.8% men) with LV-SEC, the incidence of 1-year embolism was 12.9%. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, significant risk factors for thromboembolic event were age [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.022, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.000-1.045], atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR = 2.292, 95% CI: 1.237-4.244), hemoglobin (HR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.017-1.047), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR = 1.021, 95% CI: 1.002-1.041), and anticoagulant therapy (HR = 0.310, 95% CI: 0.168-0.572). For patients with repeated measurements for echocardiography, D-dimer (HR = 1.137, 95% CI: 1.051-1.231), and △LVEF (HR = 0.961, 95% CI: 0.928-0.996) were independently associated with the persistent LV-SEC.
Conclusion:
The present study reported a high incidence of 1-year thromboembolic event in patients with LV-SEC. Age, AF, hemoglobin, LVEF were independent risk factors for 1-year embolism and a reduced risk of embolism was observed among patients with anticoagulation therapy. Additionally, D-dimer and △LVEF are independently associated with the persistent LV-SEC.
More Related Videos
08:19Transthoracic Echocardiography to Assess Post-Resuscitation Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest in Pigs
Published on: July 12, 2022
12:12Echocardiographic Approaches and Protocols for Comprehensive Phenotypic Characterization of Valvular Heart Disease in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:23Mitral Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:23Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests