Prevalence of left chamber cardiac thrombi in patients with dilated left ventricle at sinus rhythm: the role of transesophageal echocardiography.

BACKGROUND

Left atrial appendage (LAA) may be a source of thrombi in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy at sinus rhythm. The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence of intracardiac left chamber thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast and to identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors for left ventricle (LV), left atrium (LA), and/or LAA thrombus formation, particularly as regard to LV, LA, and LAA size, in heart failure patients at sinus rhythm.

METHODS

We included 45 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of ischemic or idiopathic origin with mild to moderate systolic dysfunction, who were at sinus rhythm and without anticoagulation therapy.

RESULTS

Mean left ventricular end diastolic diameter was 64.9 ± 6.1 mm, and mean LV ejection fraction was 39.9 ± 7.3%. LV thrombus was found in 13.3% of patients and LAA thrombus in 68. 9%. Left ventricular end diastolic diameter was correlated with LA volume (r = 0.59, p < 0.0001) and LV thrombus (r = 0.38, p = 0.005). LA volume was correlated with LAA maximal area (r = 0.34, p = 0.01), which was an independent predictor for LAA thrombus formation (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Dilation of left cardiac chambers offers a suitable terrain for thrombus formation. The high probability of LAA thrombosis should be kept in mind when designing the treatment strategy for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy at sinus rhythm.