Sudden cardiac death caused by native aortic valve thrombosis in an adult patient with a complex congenital cyanotic heart disease

Abstract

Cyanotic congenital heart disease is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism. We describe the case of sudden cardiac death caused by native aortic valve thrombosis in adult cyanotic patient. Such embolic complication was not previously described in cyanotic patient. It is also the first report of sudden cardiac death as an initial presentation of the native aortic valve thrombosis. Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism due to different haemathologic abnormalities associated with hypoxemia and secondary polycythemia [H. Kajimoto, M. Nakazawa, K. Murasaki, et al. Increased thrombogenesity in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Circ J Jun 2007;71(6):948–953]. Cerebrovascular events, venous and arterial thrombosis have been described in patients with CCHD [N. Ammash, C.A. Warnes. Cerebrovascular events in adult patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease. J Am Coll Cardiol Sep 1996;28(3):768–772]. We present a case of the native aortic valve thrombosis in an adult patient with a complex cyanotic congenital heart lesion which led to sudden death.