Diagnosis Of Left Ventricular Thrombus Research Articles

Direct oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin in patients with left ventricular thrombus: a cohort study from China.

Current guidelines recommend vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for left ventricular (LV) thrombus. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) and warfarin in Chinese patients with LV thrombus. Patients with LV thrombus admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University between January 2018 and January 2022, were enrolled in this cohort study. The primary endpoint was defined as thrombus resolution within 90 days. The secondary endpoints included thrombus resolution within 180 days, major bleeding events, and minor bleeding events. All patients were followed up for at least 90 days after diagnosis of LV thrombus. Patients were divided into the VKA and DOAC groups according to the anticoagulants. Differences in clinical endpoint events between the two groups were compared. This study included 129 and 111 patients in the VKA and DOAC groups, respectively. After adjusting for gender and smoking status, no significant difference was observed in thrombus resolution within 90 days between the VKA and DOAC groups. Additionally, there was no difference between the two groups in the secondary endpoints of thrombus resolution within 180 days, major bleeding, and minor bleeding. In subgroup analysis, rivaroxaban and dabigatran did not show significant differences in primary and secondary endpoints. This study showed no significant difference in thrombus resolution between DOAC and warfarin. DOAC might be an alternative to warfarin for the treatment of LV thrombus. However, further large prospective studies are required to explore the efficacy and safety of DOAC in patients with LV thrombus.

Meta-analysis of cardiac imaging modalities for the diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus following acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Background The formation of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patient carries significant risk of systemic embolism. Hence, there is a need to adopt strategies aimed at accurate and early diagnosis of LVT in order to mitigate the risk of embolic events with anti-thrombotic therapy. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to appraise the current literature on the various diagnostic modalities used in post-AMI LVT detection. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search in Medline, EMBASE, and Scopus using an appropriate keyword/MeSH term search strategy up to 31 December 2021. All studies reporting a comparison between at least two imaging modalities in the diagnosis of LVT in post-AMI patients were included. Results A total of 2039 patient from 11 studies published between 2006 and 2021 were studied. Across all study populations, a majority of patients were male (82.3%) and the overall incidence of LVT was 15.2%. Using delayed-enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (DE-CMR) as the gold standard reference, transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with ultrasound enhancing agent (UEA) had the highest sensitivity (0.886, 95% CI 0.667-0.967) and specificity (0.980, 95% CI 0.900-0.996), while cine-CMR had the best diagnostic performance in terms of positive likelihood ratio (LR+ 437, 95% CI 37.2-1890), negative likelihood ratio (LR- 0.246, 95% CI 0.118-0.423) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR 2050, 95% CI 134-9590). The summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROCs) of the three studied imaging modalities were plotted and the AUC values were 0.920, 0.974 and 0.989 for TTE without and with UEA, and cine-CMR. Conclusions The diagnostic modalities used for LVT detection examined in this study had good specificity but poor sensitivity when compared to DE-CMR. Post-AMI patients at higher risk of LVT formation may benefit from further imaging studies with DE-CMR if initial TTE were negative.

Abstract 16259: Sex Related Differences in Clinical Presentation and Outcomes in Left Ventricular Thrombus

Introduction: Sex related differences in the etiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with left ventricular thrombus (LVT) are not well understood. Methods: We developed a multi-center registry of patients diagnosed with LV thrombus by echocardiography between 1/1/2014-12/30/2020. Cases were retrospectively identified and baseline clinical characteristics, thrombus features, treatment, resolution and long-term outcomes were studied. Results: Women constituted 27% of all patients (n=271, 29% African American). Compared to men, there were no significant differences in age at presentation (median age 60 years) or median LVEF at presentation (25%). Women were more likely to have nonischemic cardiomyopathy (52.6% vs 32.2%, p=0.02) and presented with thromboembolic event at time of diagnosis of LVT (27.3% vs 13.6%, p=0.008). There was no difference in use of vitamin K antagonists during the study period. During a median follow-up of 72 months, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality or risk of stroke or arterial thromboembolism (figure 1A-B). In Cox regression analysis, age and LVEF at presentation, chronic kidney disease, malignancy and LVEF at presentation were significant predictors of long-term mortality. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality or risk of stroke or thromboembolism between men and women after diagnosis of LV thrombus.

Abstract 17671: Comparative Analysis of Warfarin and Direct Oral Anticoagulants for the Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in the treatment of left ventricular thrombus (LVT). Warfarin has been shown to be an effective treatment in mitigating thrombotic events; however, numerous limitations exist, including the need for frequent monitoring and increased risk of side effects. Despite this, insight into DOAC use for the treatment of LVT remains limited. Thus, this study seeks to investigate the safety and efficacy of DOACs as a potential alternative to warfarin for the treatment of LVT. Hypothesis: DOACs decreases the risk of adverse events compared to Warfarin in patients with LVT. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a federated realtime database called TriNetX which is comprised of over 100 million patient records. ICD-10 diagnostic codes and national drug codes were used to stratify adults by warfarin or DOAC treatment within 3 months of an initial LVT diagnosis. A 1:1 matched propensity score analysis was conducted, adjusting for comorbidities and demographics, to calculate adjusted Risk Ratios (aRR) with 95% CI. 90-day risk for mortality, stroke, need for blood transfusion, hemorrhage, and arterial embolism & thrombosis were examined. Results: In a matched sample of 11,206 patients in each cohort, patients with LVT who took warfarin within 3 months of initial diagnosis is at higher risk for stroke (aRR[95%CI]=1.44(1.34,1.55)], need for blood transfusion [1.29(1.11,1.51)], hemorrhage [1.56(1.35,1.8)], and arterial thromboembolism [1.28(1.13,1.45)] than LVT patients who took a DOAC. Risk for death was non-significant between cohorts. Conclusions: The findings from this large electronic medical record patient cohort establish higher rates of adverse events for patients with LVT treated with warfarin versus DOAC, with no statistically significant difference in therapeutic efficacy.

CLINICAL SUSPICION OF LEFT VENTRICULAR APICAL THROMBUS - WHAT TO DO?: A CASE REPORT

Thrombi represent the most frequently found intracardiac masses. Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is an important complication in patients with ischemic heart diseases and in those with dilated cardiomyopathy and systolic heart failure. The diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus remains important since anticoagulation will reduce the risk of systemic embolization and stroke. Despite advances in other imaging modalities, echocardiography remains the most important tool for diagnosis and risk stratification in patients predisposed to develop left ventricular thrombi. We are presenting a case report of 62 years old gentleman who had suffered from anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI) in the recent past, and now has developed LVT which was detected by contrast tuned imaging (CTI) based contrast echocardiography. This is a first case report of detection of LVT by this ingenious technology.

Contrast Tuned Imaging for Detection of Left Ventricular apical thrombus: A Case Report

Thrombi represent the most frequently found intracardiac masses. Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is an important complication in patients with ischemic heart diseases and in those with dilated cardiomyopathy and systolic heart failure. The diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus remains important since anticoagulation will reduce the risk of systemic embolization and stroke. Despite advances in other imaging modalities, echocardiography remains the most important tool for diagnosis and risk stratification in patients predisposed to develop left ventricular thrombi. We are presenting a case report of 62 years old gentleman who had suffered from anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI) in the recent past, and now has developed LVT which was detected by contrast tuned imaging (CTI) technology based contrast echocardiography. This is a first case report of detection of LVT by this ingenious technology. Keywords: Thrombus, Left Ventricle, Ischemic Heart Disease, Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction, Contrast Tuned Imaging, Left Ventricular Opacification.

Time Trends of Etiology, Treatment, and Long-Term Outcomes Among Patients with Left Ventricular Thrombus.

Recommendations for drug treatment of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) are based on the ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) guidelines; however, the etiology of LVT has changed. Due to the lack of evidence regarding LVT treatment in the heart failure population, current heart failure guidelines do not cover LVT treatment. We sought to review the etiology of LVT and changes in antithrombotic therapy over the previous 12 years and explore the impact of anticoagulation treatment from a single center's experience. From January 2009 to June 2021, we studied 1675 patients with a discharge diagnosis of LVT at a single center to investigate the clinical characteristics, incidence of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, ischemic stroke, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), systemic embolism (SE), and major bleeding events. Patients were divided into an anticoagulant group and a non-anticoagulant group according to whether they received oral anticoagulant therapy at discharge. The study included 909 patients (anticoagulation, 510; no anticoagulation, 399). While overall antiplatelet therapy dramatically decreased, more patients with LVT received oral anticoagulation in 2021 (74.0%) than in 2009 (29.6%). In addition, more than half of the patients had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) each year. The all-cause mortality was 17.3% during 3.8 years of follow-up. The incidences of cardiovascular death, stroke, MACCE, SE, and major bleeding were 16.0%, 3.3%, 19.8%, 5.1%, and 1.7%, respectively. The anticoagulation group had a significantly higher proportion of dilated cardiomyopathy than the non-anticoagulation group (24.7% vs. 5.5%, p 0.001), and a lower LVEF (34.0 vs. 41.0, p 0.001). The anticoagulation group also had a higher probability of adverse events on long-term follow-up (p 0.05). A multivariable competing risk regression model found no significant difference in all six endpoints between the groups (all p 0.05). Similar results were found by matched and weighted data analysis. Diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio (HR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.93; p = 0.027), renal insufficiency (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.60-3.50; p 0.001), history of previous stroke (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.13-2.29; p = 0.009), and HFrEF (HR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.78-3.64; p 0.001) were predictors of increased risk of MACCE. Heart failure, rather than acute myocardial infarction, is currently the primary cause of LVT. A trend towards better prognosis in the no anticoagulation group was noted. Multivariable, matching and weighting analysis showed no improvement in prognosis with anticoagulant therapy. Our study does not negate the efficacy of anticoagulation but suggests the need to strengthen the management of anticoagulation in order to achieve better efficacy.

Clinical Outcome After Left Ventricular Thrombus Resolution: Who Needs Long-Term or Lifetime Use of Anticoagulants?

Background Patients with left ventricular thrombus (LVT) resolution can have LVT recurrence and risk for thromboembolism. However, these outcomes after LVT resolution are not well known. We aimed to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes for LVT recurrence in patients with LVT resolution to inform follow-up and treatment. Methods and Results Patients with LVT resolution were identified retrospectively from a large echocardiography database between January 2009 and May 2022. Participants had echocardiograms at 3 time points, including baseline at LVT diagnosis, at LVT resolution, and a follow-up for identification of LVT recurrence. The cumulative LVT recurrence rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and predictors of LVT recurrence were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. Among 115 patients with LVT resolution, 28 (24.3%) had LVT recurrence at a median follow-up of 1.2 (0.5-2.8) years. LV aneurysm (hazard ratio [HR], 2.59 [95% CI, 1.20-5.58], P=0.015) and anticoagulant use (HR, 0.12 [95% CI, 0.04-0.41], P=0.001) were predictors of LVT recurrence on multivariable analysis. Patients with an LV aneurysm who did not receive any anticoagulation demonstrated an LVT recurrence rate of 69.5%, whereas those without an LV aneurysm who received anticoagulation had a recurrence rate of 0%. Patients with LVT recurrence had a higher incidence of an embolic event (10.7% versus 1.1%, P=0.016). Conclusions LVT recurrence after LVT resolution is common, especially in those with an LV aneurysm, and is associated with a higher embolic risk. Continued anticoagulation is protective against LVT recurrence, although bleeding risk needs to be considered. These findings can inform follow-up and treatment of patients with documented LVT resolution.

Isolated right ventricular thrombus with the severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Unknown incidence, isolated right ventricular thrombus is a very uncommon disorder. It has frequently been claimed to be linked to right ventricular infarction, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. There have been cases of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and profound hypoxia, which may lead to right ventricular dysfunction and thrombus in the isolated right ventricle. An 80-year-old man with acute respiratory failure was hospitalized to our emergency room. He also had Alzheimer's, COPD, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerotic heart disease. The patient wasn't consistently using his prescription drugs and oxygen therapy. His lungs were examined, and wheezing or a drawn-out expiration was found. S1 and S2 were normal on cardiac auscultation, and there was no S3, S4, or murmur. Similar to earlier ECGs, the electrocardiogram displayed T wave inversion in leads V1-V5 and D2-D3-AVF. No pulmonary embolism was observed with computed tomography. A 1.5x2.8 cm mass was discovered between the right ventricular trabeculae during routine echocardiography, which was used to assess heart function. Moreover, there was middle tricuspid regurgitation, right ventricular dilatation, and an 8 mm tricuspid annular plane systolic extension (TAPSE). To make the diagnosis clearer, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was carried out. Nodular forms between the trabeculations in the right ventricle were seen using cardiac resonance imaging and were considered to be thrombi because they appeared hypointense on late contrast images. Treatment with apixaban and an inhaler were both initiated. A control examination was scheduled for the patient. Transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can all identify RV thrombus. Although transthoracic surgery is the procedure of choice in clinical practice, right ventricular thrombus diagnosis is not usually as straightforward as left ventricular thrombus diagnosis. According to recent studies, the most precise method for detecting myocardial thrombus is cardiac MRI. While being more expensive than transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac MRI can be utilized to differentiate between different types of heart masses or to rule out fatal conditions such right ventricular thrombus.

Risk factors for left ventricular thrombus formation on transthoracic echocardiography in a propensity-matched case control study

Abstract Introduction The specific risk factors for left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) independent of age, sex, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remain uncertain. Purpose To conduct a propensity-matched case control study of LVT. Methods We queried structured TTE report data from 113,673 patients at our institution to identify individuals with LVT on TTE, 2000–2011. Cases were matched 1:1 with controls on age, sex, LVEF, inpatient/outpatient status, image quality, test year, blood pressure, heart rate, height, and weight. using propensity scores. Risk factors for LVT formation were determined using medical chart review. Results Over 12 years, we identified 132 patients with LVT and 132 matched controls (mean age 62.0±16.1 years, 73.1% male, mean LVEF 27.0% ± 16.0%). Cases were similar to controls across all matched variables except height (cases vs. controls, mean height 172.2±8.8 vs. 174.8±9.3 cm, p=0.03). Compared with controls, TTEs for cases were more frequently performed for the indications of myocardial infarction (MI; 28.0% vs. 9.9%, p<0.001) and source of embolism (3.8% vs. 0.0%, p=0.008). Despite no differences between cases and controls in rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and thrombophilia (Table), a history of peripheral arterial disease was associated with a 3.4-fold increased odds of LVT formation (univariate odds ratio [OR], 3.35, 1.50–7.47, p=0.003). This association persisted despite adjustment for history of MI, stroke, height, history of recent major bleeding, and receipt of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (adjusted OR, 4.33, 1.66–11.29, p=0.003). On presentation, 22.0% of cases were on anticoagulation including 20.5% on warfarin, none on a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), and 1.5% on heparin products. Additionally, 48.5% of cases were on antiplatelet medications. Of the 27 patients on warfarin on diagnosis of LVT, 25.9% had an International Normalized Range (INR) value <2.0. All TTE parameters were similar across groups (p>0.05 for all). Of those with LVT, 54 (40.9%) had LVT resolution over a median of 4.4 (0.9 to 13.6) months. Conclusions In this single center, propensity-matched case-control study of individuals with LVT on TTE, a history of peripheral arterial disease was associated with a 4.3-fold increased odds of LVT formation independent of age, sex, LVEF, history of MI, stroke, or PCI. Of those with LVT, anticoagulation was used on presentation in 22.0%. Nearly half had LVT resolution within 4.4 months. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): The project was funded by a grant from the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (1K23HL144907 - Strom).

Clinical profile and midterm prognosis of left ventricular thrombus in heart failure.

AimsWe documented the midterm prognosis of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in heart failure (HF) patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). We aimed to characterize patients with LVT in the context of HF with reduced (≤40%) left ventricular ejection fraction and evaluate their risk for death and/or embolic events, overall, and specifically in patients with ischaemic or non‐ischaemic aetiology. We also intended to identify risk factors for LVT in patients with DCM.Methods and resultsWe included all HF patients (N = 105, age 56 ± 13) admitted from 2005 to 2018 in our institution for LVT without significant valve disease/prosthesis, heart transplant/left ventricular assist device, congenital heart disease, or acute myocardial infarction. Our primary endpoint was the 1 year risk of the composite of all‐cause mortality (ACM) and symptomatic embolic events. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 23 ± 9%, and median BNP was 1795 pg/mL. Most (97%) patients were treated with vitamin K anticoagulants, and 64% had ICM. Symptomatic embolic events and/or ACM occurred in 20% of the population [embolic events (all within 30 days of LVT diagnosis) 15% and ACM 6%] and was similarly frequent in DCM or ICM (P > 0.05). Suspected/transient embolic events were more frequent in DCM (overall 13%; 29% in DCM vs. 5% in ICM, P < 0.01). Major bleeding occurred in 5% of patients. Left ventricular reverse remodelling occurred in 65% of patients, more frequently in DCM (86% in DCM vs. 65% in ICM, P = 0.02). In a case–control analysis matching DCM patients, BNP level was the only factor significantly associated with LVT (2447 pg/mL in LVT vs. 347 pg/mL, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with LVT have markedly high natriuretic peptides and experience a 20% 1 year risk for embolic events and/or death following diagnosis despite anticoagulant treatment. Most patients have favourable remodelling/recovery. As all symptomatic embolic events occurred within 30 days of LVT diagnosis, a very careful initial management is warranted.

Predicting mortality, thrombus recurrence and persistence in patients with post-acute myocardial infarction left ventricular thrombus.

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction and is associated with morbidity from embolic complications. Predicting which patients will develop death or persistent LVT despite anticoagulation may help clinicians identify high-risk patients. We developed a random forest (RF) model that predicts death or persistent LVT and evaluated its performance. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study in an academic tertiary center. We included 244 patients with LVT in our study. Patients who did not receive anticoagulation (n = 8) or had unknown (n = 31) outcomes were excluded. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of death, recurrent LVT and persistent LVT. We selected a total of 31 predictors collected at the point of LVT diagnosis based on clinical relevance. We compared conventional regularized logistic regression with the RF algorithm. There were 156 patients who had resolution of LVT and 88 patients who experienced the composite outcome. The RF model achieved better performance and had an AUROC of 0.700 (95% CI 0.553-0.863) on a validation dataset. The most important predictors for the composite outcome were receiving a revascularization procedure, lower visual ejection fraction (EF), higher creatinine, global wall motion abnormality, higher prothrombin time, higher body mass index, higher activated partial thromboplastin time, older age, lower lymphocyte count and higher neutrophil count. The RF model accurately identified patients with post-AMI LVT who developed the composite outcome. Further studies are needed to validate its use in clinical practice.

Treatment and outcomes in patients with left ventricular thrombus - experiences from the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi - Kenya.

Introductionleft ventricular thrombus (LVT) may lead to thromboembolism and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the incidence, etiology and outcomes in patients with LVT in Africa. The objective was to determine the etiology, treatment practices, rate of resolution and clinical outcomes in patients with LVT in the region.Methodsa review of all echocardiograms performed in 2017 and 2018 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi was carried out and patients with LVT identified. Physician review of charts was performed to document clinical characteristics and outcomes.Resultsduring the study period 100 patients with LVT were identified (1.3% of adult echoes). The mean LVEF was 28.5% (±11.0%) and 88 (88%) patients had an LVEF of less than 40%. Underlying etiology of LV dysfunction was post myocardial infarction (MI) in 28 (28%), chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy in 42(42%) and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in 30 (30%) patients. In 15 (15%) patients a stroke or TIA predated the diagnosis of LVT. Long term anticoagulation was given to 92 (92%) patients. Among these, 34 (37%) received warfarin while 58 (63%) were treated with a DOAC. In the 64 patients who had reassessment imaging (median duration 177 days), complete thrombus resolution was noted in 38 (59.4%). One-year clinical outcome data was available for 85 patients: 13 (15.3%) patients had died, 4 (4.7%) had suffered a stroke, and 8(9.4%) had had a bleeding episode. Rates of thrombus resolution (warfarin 64%, DOAC 55.6%, p=0.51), stroke (warfarin 2.9%, DOAC 1.7%, p=1.0) and bleeding (warfarin 5.9%, DOAC 5.2%, p = 1.00 were not significantly different among patients treated with warfarin and DOAC.Conclusionwe noted a high incidence of LVT compared to contemporary Western series. The majority of our patients were treated with DOACs. There were no significant differences in outcomes between patients treated with a DOAC and those receiving warfarin. Prospective evaluation on the efficacy and safety of DOACs for this indication is needed.

Abstract 15792: Etiology, Treatment and Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Thrombus - Experiences From an African Center

Introduction: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) may lead to thromboembolism and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the incidence, etiology and outcomes in patients with LVT in Africa. Objectives: To determine the etiology, treatment practices, rate of resolution and outcomes in patients with LVT in the region. Methods: A review of all echocardiograms performed in 2017 and 2018 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi was carried out and patients with LVT identified. Physician review of charts was performed to document clinical characteristics and outcomes. Results: During the study period 100 patients with LVT were identified (1.3% of adult echoes). The mean LVEF was 28.5% (±11.0%) and 88% of the patients had an LVEF of less than 40%. Underlying etiology of LV dysfunction was post MI in 28%, chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy in 42% and non ischemic cardiomyopathy in 30%. In 15% of the patients a stroke or TIA predated the diagnosis of LVT. Long term anticoagulation was given to 92 patients. Among these, 37% received warfarin while 63% were treated with a DOAC (rivaroxaban (50%), dabigatran(7.6%) and apixaban(5.4%)). In 60% of the patients, anticoagulation was continued beyond a year. In patients with reassessment imaging (64%, median time 177 days), complete thrombus resolution was noted in 59.4%. One year follow-up data was available for 85 patients: 13 (15.3%) patients had died, 4 (4.7%) had suffered a stroke, and 8(9.4%) had a bleeding episode. Rates of thrombus resolution, stroke and bleeding were not significantly different among patients treated with warfarin and DOAC (Figure 1). Conclusions: We noted a high incidence of LVT compared to contemporary Western series. The majority of our patients were treated with DOACs. There were no significant differences in outcomes between patients treated with a DOAC and those receiving warfarin. Prospective evaluation on the efficacy and safety of DOACs for this indication is needed.

Safety of Electrical Cardioversion in Patients with Left Ventricular Thrombus

Background Electrical cardioversion is an effective and safe procedure in most patients. While left atrial thrombus is an absolute contraindication for elective cardioversion, there is very limited data on cardioversion in patients with left ventricular thrombus. We sought to better study the safety of cardioversion in this population. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients with the diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) at our institution from 2010-2019. Patient were included in the study if they had undergone cardioversion and had had a TTE 4 weeks prior or 2 days after cardioversion showing left ventricular thrombus. Medical charts were reviewed for embolic events within three months after cardioversion. Results Out of 790 patients, 39 were included in the study. Mean age was 59.6 +/-14 years. The reason for cardioversion was atrial fibrillation/flutter (n = 14), ventricular arrhythmia (n = 14) and defibrillation threshold testing during defibrillator placement (n = 11). Mean time interval between the TTE and the cardioversion was 6 +/-6.3 days. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 24%+/-10%. Left ventricular thrombus was mobile (n = 3), fixed (n = 32) or calcified (n = 4). During a clinical follow-up period of 87+/-35 days, 28 patients (72%) were treated with warfarin, 2 patients (5%) with a direct oral anticoagulants, and 9 patients (23%) with anti-platelet therapy alone. No patient had an embolic complication during the follow-up. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, cardioversion in patients with left ventricular thrombus appeared to be safe. Further larger studies are needed.

Left ventricular thrombus management in a prospective acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction patient cohort

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a rare complication of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its management is based on low-evidence recommendations. LVT is also underdiagnosed because of low routine use of cardiac Myocardial Resonance (CMR) imaging after STEMI. To describe the prevalence, the management and the 12-month follow-up of LVT in a contemporary acute STEMI population. Consecutive STEMI patients were enrolled in a monocentric, observational, prospective study (HIBISCUS cohort). They all underwent a trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) discharge and at one month. A CMR was also performed at one month. All CMR were re-analyzed a posteriori by a core lab, this assessment was the gold standard for LVT diagnosis. Medical treatment, follow-up by medical imaging and adverse events were collected at 12 months prospectively. A total of 247 STEMI patients were included. LVT was present in 30 (12.1%) patients. For eight of them clinicians were not aware of the diagnosis as LVT was not seen upon first CMR reading. LVT was diagnosed before ICU discharge in 16.7% of cases. In patients with initial diagnosis ( n = 22), vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) treatment was prescribed in ( n = 15) 76.7% and a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) in ( n = 7) 23.3%. A LVT follow-up imaging was specifically requested in 77.8% cases within 12-months. It was based on TTE in n = 9 (64.3%), CMR in n = 3 (21.4%) and MDCT in n = 2 (14.3%). Follow-up imaging showed a persistent LVT in 28.6% of cases. At 12 months follow-up there was no ischemic stroke but one (3%) severe hemorrhage and one (3%) stent thrombosis. This observational study shows a 12% prevalence of LVT in a contemporary STEMI population and confirms the significant underdiagnosis by TTE. There was an important heterogeneity in the management and monitoring of LVT with a low rate of ischemic or hemorrhagic events.

Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus With Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Retrospective Observational Study

BackgroundThere is limited data on the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment of left ventricular thrombus. Currently, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remain the preferred oral anticoagulant for left ventricular thrombus. In this retrospective study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of DOACs in comparison to VKAs in patients with a new diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus. MethodsWe retrospectively identified all patients admitted to the 5 Catholic Health Initiative Omaha hospitals with a diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus between January 2012 and March 2019 and were discharged on oral anticoagulants. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: VKAs or DOACs and followed for up to 1 year. We compared the outcomes of ischemic stroke, bleeding, and echocardiographic resolution of left ventricular thrombus between the 2 groups. ResultsA total of 99 patients were included in this study (mean age: 61 years, 29% females). Of these, 80 (81%) were discharged on VKAs and 19 (19%) on DOACs. Stroke within 1 year of diagnosis occurred in 2 patients in the VKA group and none in the DOAC group (P = 0.49). Bleeding events were observed in 5 patients (4 in the VKA group and 1 in the DOAC group; P = 0.96). Ninety patients had follow-up echocardiogram; resolution of left ventricular thrombus was similar between the 2 groups (VKAs vs DOACs: 81% vs 80%; P = 0.9). ConclusionIn patients with left ventricular thrombus, DOACs and VKAs had similar rates of stroke and bleeding. These findings need confirmation in randomized clinical trials.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants for the Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus-A New Indication? A Meta-summary of Case Reports.

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) can be a consequence of cardiac diseases such as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and acute myocardial infarction. Currently, the guidelines recommend the use of warfarin for the treatment of this condition. However, there are increasing reports of patients with LVTs being treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), for several reasons. We set out to review the available literature to assess the safety and the efficacy of this approach. We analyzed 52 cases, extrapolated by 34 papers contained in literature, focusing on the characteristics of patients, treatment, outcome, and follow-up. Rivaroxaban was the most commonly used DOAC, followed by apixaban. The diagnosis of LVT and the follow-up were mainly performed by transthoracic echocardiography. The thrombus resolved in 45 patients (92%) of 49 (there are no data available regarding the outcome of 3 patients) and failed to resolve in 4 patients treated with DOACs. The resolution occurred in a median of 32 days. DOACs are shown to be a reasonable and valid option for the treatment of LVT. Our study provides a rationale for a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Acute myocardial infarction, intraventricular thrombus and risk of systemic embolism.

The development of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a well-known and serious complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to the risk of systemic arterial embolism (SE), which is variable in its clinical picture and has potentially serious consequences depending on the extent of target organ damage. SE results in an increase in mortality and morbidity in these patients. LVT is one of the main causes of the development of ischaemic cardio-embolic cardiovascular events (CVE) after MI and the determination of the source of cardiac embolus is crucial for the initiation of adequate anticoagulant therapy in secondary prevention. Echocardiography holds an irreplaceable place in the diagnosis of LVT, contrast enhancement provides higher sensitivity. The gold standard for LVT diagnosis is cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, but it is not suitable as a basic screening test. In patients with already diagnosed LVT, it is necessary to adjust antithrombotic therapy by starting warfarin anticoagulation for at least 6 months with the need for echocardiographic follow-up to detect thrombotic residues. The effect of prophylactic administration of warfarin in high-risk patients after anterior AMI does not outweigh the risk of severe bleeding complications and does not result in a decrease in mortality and morbidity. At the present time, there is not enough evidence to use direct oral anticoagulants in this indication.

Comparative Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin for the Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus

Introduction Left ventricular (LV) thrombus is a complication of acute endomyocardial injury and chronic ventricular wall hypokinesis (e.g. dilated cardiomyopathy), resulting in increased risk of thromboembolic complications. Historically, observational studies support the general safety and efficacy of warfarin for this indication. To date, limited data exists regarding the use of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for LV thrombus. Methods A retrospective cohort study utilizing electronic medical records was conducted from September 2012 - October 2018 at the University of Colorado Hospital System. Patients were included if they had any diagnosis of LV thrombus and received either a DOAC or warfarin within 90 days of diagnosis. The primary outcome was to determine the incidence of thromboembolic stroke in patients receiving a DOAC compared to warfarin. Secondary outcomes consisted of the composite incidence of thromboembolic events (stroke and systemic embolism), bleeding rates defined by the The Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Arteries (GUSTO) criteria, and blood product administration. Chi square test was used to analyze categorical variables and the student's t-test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test for continuous data. All statistical analyses were conducted using SAS. Results A total of 949 patients met inclusion, of whom 180 (19%) received a DOAC and 769 (81%) warfarin. Of the DOAC cohort, 77 (41.6%) received rivaroxaban, 79 (42.7%) apixaban, and 29 (15.7%) dabigatran. For baseline demographic information, see table 1. For the primary endpoint of new onset thromboembolic stroke on or within 90 days of LV thrombus diagnosis, no difference existed between treatment groups (DOAC: 7.8% vs warfarin: 11.7%, p=0.524). When compared to warfarin, no difference existed in the composite of thromboembolic events (33.1% vs 30.6%, P=0.524, respectively) or in GUSTO bleeding (11.1% vs 7.8%, p=0.397, for DOAC vs. warfarin, respectively). However, more patients on warfarin received blood products compared to those taking a DOAC (25.8% vs 13.9%, p Conclusions Compared to warfarin, DOACs may be safe and efficacious for the treatment of LV thrombus, however further studies are warranted.