P209
Background
Intra-cardiac thrombus is a potential source of embolus leading to ischemic cerebrovascular event. The natural history of intra-cardiac thrombus is not known. Objectives To examine the natural history of intra-cardiac thrombus detected by TEE in stroke/TIA patients.
Methods
Eighty-one patients with recent stroke/TIA underwent sequential TEE evaluations at ≤7 days and 9 months from the symptom onset to detect intra-cardiac thrombus (mean age 60, 39 males and 60 black). The TEEs were recorded on VHS videotape and systematically evaluated by two blinded cardiologists for evidence and location of intra-cardiac thrombus (λ=0.72). In case of a disagreement it was adjudicated by a third blinded cardiologist. The stroke risk factors and stroke preventive medications were recorded in patients with and without intracardiac thrombus and compared using χ
2
test.
Results
An intra-cardiac thrombus was found in the initial TEE in 18 (22%) patients (2 in left atrium, 13 in left atrial appendage, 3 in left ventricle) and in the follow-up 9 month TEE in 9 (11%) patients (8 in left atrial appendage, 1 in left ventricle). The intracardiac thrombus had disappeared in 14 (78%) patients in a period of 9 months (2 in left atrium, 9 in left atrial appendage and 3 in left ventricle). Disappearance of intracardiac thrombus correlated strongly with patients anticoagulated with Warfarin (p<0.0001). A new intracardiac thrombus was detected only on the 9 month TEE in 5 (6%) patients (5 in the left atrial appendage, none in the left atrium or left ventricle). The patients with new intracardiac thrombus were significantly (p=0.02) older (mean±SD=70±7 yrs) as compared to those without (59±12 yrs). Three out of five patients with new cardiac thrombus were felt to have small vessel occlusive disease and were on antiplatelet therapy.
Conclusions
Anticoagulation with warfarin for 9 months can result in disappearance of intracardiac thrombus in stroke/TIA patients. Anticoagulation with Warfarin may have a therapeutic role in stroke/TIA patients with intracardiac thrombus. Older patients with lacunar strokes and not on anticoagulation are prone to develop an new intracardiac thrombus.
Natural history of saccular aneurysms of the left ventricle
