Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 16, 2026

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
08:17

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery

Published on: February 20, 2017

[Spontaneous echo contrast in atrium with rheumatic heart disease by transesophageal echocardiography and its

S Q Lu1

  • 1Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Provincial Cardiovascular Disease Research Institute, Hefei.

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi
|April 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is common in rheumatic heart disease patients, especially with mitral stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) effectively detects SEC and its association with thrombus formation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and mural thrombus are potential indicators of thromboembolic risk.
  • Rheumatic heart disease, particularly mitral stenosis, is associated with altered atrial hemodynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence of atrial SEC and mural thrombus in patients with rheumatic heart disease.
  • To assess the diagnostic utility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) versus transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for detecting these findings.
  • To identify clinical factors associated with SEC and thrombus formation.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 154 consecutive patients undergoing both TEE and TTE.
  • Echocardiographic assessment for the presence of SEC and left atrial mural thrombus.
  • Correlation analysis with clinical data including mitral valve disease, atrial fibrillation, and left atrial size.

Main Results:

  • SEC was detected in 68.8% of patients by TEE, predominantly in the left atrium; TTE detected neither SEC nor thrombus.
  • A strong association was found between SEC and mitral stenosis (90% prevalence), atrial fibrillation, and left atrial enlargement.
  • Left atrial mural thrombus was present in 33.6% of patients, with 80% of these also having SEC, indicating a significant link between SEC and thrombus.

Conclusions:

  • Transesophageal echocardiography is highly sensitive for detecting atrial spontaneous echo contrast in rheumatic heart disease.
  • SEC is a common finding in this patient population and is significantly associated with mitral stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and left atrial thrombus formation.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the prognostic implications of SEC and thrombus in rheumatic heart disease.

More Related Videos

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques06:29

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques

Published on: June 11, 2019

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure07:41

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure

Published on: February 8, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography01:17

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography

Cardiac imaging studies encompass a wide range of noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques designed to visualize the heart's structure and function in detail. One such technique is echocardiography, which uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to produce detailed images of the heart, known as echocardiograms.
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography01:20

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography

Echocardiography plays a role in assessing cardiac health and detecting heart conditions, with various types providing critical insights for diagnosis and treatment.
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 diagnosing...
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests01:23

Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests

Mitral stenosis is a heart condition in which the mitral valve, which allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, becomes narrowed or stenotic. This narrowing hinders blood flow and leads to clinical symptoms requiring specific medical evaluations and management strategies. The following overview outlines the clinical symptoms, assessments, diagnostic findings, prevention methods, and treatments for mitral stenosis.Clinical ManifestationsDyspnea (shortness of breath): This...
Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:22

Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Aortic valve regurgitation (AR) occurs when the aortic valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. This backflow can result in two distinct clinical presentations: acute and chronic AR, each characterized by its own set of symptoms and physical findings.Acute Aortic RegurgitationAcute AR presents with a sudden onset of severe symptoms. Patients typically experience profound dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest pain, and signs of left...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...