scholarly journals Left atrial appendage thrombosis in a patient with Friedreich Ataxia–related cardiomyopathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2110564
Author(s):  
Michele Russo ◽  
Annachiara Nuzzo ◽  
Matteo Foschi ◽  
Simona Boarin ◽  
Stefano Lorenzetti ◽  
...  

Friedreich ataxia is the most common form of hereditary ataxia. Heart involvement in Friedreich ataxia is common and can include increased left ventricular wall thickness, atrial fibrillation, and in the later stages, a reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction. We present the case of a 45-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ⩾ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, and female sex (CHA2DS2-VASc) score of only 1 (because of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction) who presented with pneumonia and was also found to have atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. Despite already being on long-term therapy with a non-vitamin K-antagonist oral anticoagulant, a transesophageal echocardiogram showed a mobile floating thrombus in the left atrial appendage. In accordance with previous necropsy evidence of thrombosis and thromboembolism in Friedreich ataxia subjects who likely have had only non-sex-related CHA2DS2-VASc score ⩽1, this case suggests that the risk of thromboembolism in Friedreich ataxia subjects with atrial fibrillation may not be adequately predicted by the sole CHA2DS2-VASc score.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Uziębło-Życzkowska ◽  
Paweł Krzesiński ◽  
Agnieszka Jurek ◽  
Agnieszka Kapłon-Cieślicka ◽  
Iwona Gorczyca ◽  
...  

Introduction. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of ischemic stroke. The most frequent thrombus location in AF is the left atrial appendage (LAA). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a basic diagnostic examination in patients (pts) with AF. Objectives. To analyse the relations between basic echocardiographic features, well-established stroke risk factors, type of AF, and anticoagulation therapy with the incidence of left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT). Patients and Methods. The study group consisted of 768 pts with AF (mean age, 63 years), admitted to three high-reference cardiology departments. Five hundred and twenty-three pts were treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and 227 (30%) with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The subjects underwent TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before cardioversion or ablation. Results. LAAT was significantly more frequent in pts with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): in 10.6% (7 pts) with LVEF<40% and in 9.0% (9 pts) with LVEF 40-49%, while only in 5.5% (33 pts) with LVEF>50%. Compared to pts without LAAT, those with LAAT presented with lower LVEF and higher left atrial diameter (LAD). Multivariate logistic regression revealed the following variables as independent predictors of LAAT: previous bleeding, treatment with VKA, and LVEF. Conclusion. LAAT is related to lower LVEF and higher LAD. LVEF is one of the independent predictors of LAAT. Even in the case of adequate anticoagulant therapy, it might be prudent to consider TEE before cardioversion or ablation in patients with low LVEF and LA enlargement, especially in the coexistence of other thromboembolic risk factors.


2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 26-29
Author(s):  
N. E. Grigoriadi ◽  
L. M. Vasilets ◽  
A. V. Tuev ◽  
E. A. Ratanova ◽  
O. V. Khlynova ◽  
...  

Aim. To study the parameters of the structural and functional state of the myocardium in patients with hypertension, to determine their prognostic value on the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and methods: the study involved 72 people: patients with hypertension and AF, with isolated hypertension and apparently healthy individuals. All of them performed echocardiography, blood pressure monitoring and monitoring of cardiogram. Results: the dilatation of left atrial was founded: patients with the atrial fibrillation on the background of hypertension observed the most pronounced changes in the left atrial. In patients with hypertension without arrhythmias and in combination with atrial fibrillation severe left ventricular hypertrophy was observed. Left ventricle systolic function in groups has been stored but in patients with atrial fibrillation on the background of hypertension was significantly lower. The risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension prognostic value are the only values of the age, the volume index of the left atrial to the body surface area and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions. The risk of AF in hypertension occurs over the age of 55 and each subsequent year increases it in 1,2 times,  it increases with an index value of the left atrial to the body surface over 29 ml/m2 and with a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction less than 58%. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 109 (11) ◽  
pp. 1333-1341
Author(s):  
Christian Fastner ◽  
Johannes Brachmann ◽  
Thorsten Lewalter ◽  
Uwe Zeymer ◽  
Horst Sievert ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Interventional left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) effectively prevents thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation patients. Impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increases not only the thromboembolic risk but also the complication rates of cardiac interventions. The LAAC procedure’s benefit in patients with an impaired LVEF, therefore, has yet to be investigated. Methods LAARGE is a prospective, non-randomized registry depicting the clinical reality of LAAC in Germany. Procedure was conducted with different standard commercial devices, and follow-up period was one year. In the sense of an as-treated analysis, patients with started procedure and documented LVEF were selected from the whole database. Results 619 patients from 37 centers were categorized into one of three groups: LVEF > 55% (56%), 36–55% (36%), and ≤ 35% (8%). Prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity increased with LVEF reduction (p < 0.001 for trend). CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3, 4.8, and 5.1 (p < 0.001), and HAS-BLED score was 3.7, 4.1, and 4.2 (p < 0.001). Implantation success was consistently high (97.9%), rates of intra-hospital MACCE (0.5%), and other major complications (4.2%) were low (each p = NS). Kaplan–Meier estimation showed a decrease in survival free of stroke with LVEF reduction during one-year follow-up (89.3 vs. 87.0 vs. 79.8%; p = 0.067), a trend which was no longer evident after adjustment for relevant confounding factors. Rates of non-fatal strokes (0.4 vs. 1.1 vs. 0%) and severe bleedings (0.7 vs. 0.0 vs. 3.1%) were consistently low across all groups (each p = NS). Conclusions LVEF reduction neither influenced the procedural success nor the effectiveness and safety of stroke prevention by LAAC. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02230748 Graphic abstract


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohamed Hassan ◽  
Hazem Mohamed Abdel Menaem ◽  
Ahmed Mohamed Onsy ◽  
Azza Alaa Omran ◽  
Mona Mostafa Mohamed Rayan

Abstract Background The most common etiology of stroke is known to be cardio- embolic type and left atrial appendage is the site of origin of thrombi in 90% of cardio embolic stroke .Most literature reports that left atrial appendage thrombi tend to be more common in females and black people1. In the past, the left atrial appendage (LAA) has been considered to be a relatively insignificant portion of cardiac anatomy. It is now recognized that it is a structure with important pathological associations as thrombus has a predilection to form within the LAA in patients with non-valvar atrial fibrillation and to a lesser extent in those with mitral valve disease (both in atrial fibrillation and in sinus rhythm). The exact pathogenesis of thrombus formation inside left atrial appendage is still not fully elucidated, but many literature suppose that the cause is the stagnation within the long, blind-ended trabeculaed pouch2 Objective to describe left atrial appendage morphology and identify the prevalence of its different subtypes in Egyptian patients. Material and Methods the study analyzed retrospectively the data of 100 consecutive Egyptian patients who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) at Ain shams university specialized hospital from August 2019 to February 2020.Axial source images, two and threedimensional data sets were evaluated for each of the patients .All images were analyzed by a qualified cardiologist using dedicated software called “Horos Workstation”, and were blinded to patient data. All images were assessed and evaluated for LAA morphology and volume and were categorized according to the classification of Wang et al. 2010. Results windsock morphology existed in 32% of patients followed by chicken wing in 25% of patients. Cauliflower morphology was reported in 23% of patients whereas 20% of patients had cactus morphology. There was significant gender difference in LAA morphology where female patients had more cauliflower and cactus morphology as compared to male gender (p &lt; 0.05). Left atrial appendage volume showed a statistically significant positive correlation with advanced age and significant negative correlation with Left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusion Egyptian patients had predominantly windsock morphology in males and cactus morphology in females.


2021 ◽  
pp. 6-24
Author(s):  
O. O. Shakhmatova ◽  
E. P. Panchenko ◽  
T. V. Balakhonova ◽  
M. I. Makeev ◽  
V. M. Mironov ◽  
...  

We present a case of cardiomyopathy with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of up to 18%, multivessel arterial thrombosis in a patient who had undergone severe COVID-19 3.5 months earlier. The cardiopathy was initially considered as an outcome of SARSCoV2-induced myocarditis, but MRI with delayed gadolinium contrast revealed no fibrosis or evidence of active myocarditis. A detailed collection of the medical history showed that the duration of tachyform atrial fibrillation exceeded the 4 months indicated in the medical records. Oligosymptomatic manifestation of arrhythmia occurred 8 months earlier, the patient did not consult a physician due to epidemic conditions. Coronary angiography revealed subtotal stenosis of the anterior descending artery. Most probably, the cardiopathy was arrhythmogenic and ischemic. After achieving normosystole and coronary stenting, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 25-27%. At the first hospitalization 4 months ago, left atrial auricular thrombus was detected. After COVID-19 the patient received inadequately low dose of apixaban 5 mg per day. Three weeks after COVID-19, the patient was diagnosed with infarction of the right kidney, wall thrombosis in the abdominal aorta, thrombosis of the superficial femoral, deep femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial arteries on the left, right popliteal artery; thrombotic complications could have developed both in situ and as a result of cardioembolism. Administration of dabigatran 300 mg per day and aspirin helped to dissolve the thrombus in the left atrial auricle, improve the course of intermittent claudication, and avoid recurrent thrombotic complications. COVID-19 could contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, more malignant course of atrial fibrillation, development of thrombosis, but coronavirus infection is not the only cause of severe disease in a patient. СOVID-19 can not only be the cause of direct lesions of the heart and vessels, but also have an indirect negative effect - to delay the detection of cardiac pathology and be the cause of its hypodiagnosis under the mask of “postcovid”.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1829
Author(s):  
Marcin Wełnicki ◽  
Iwona Gorczyca ◽  
Wiktor Wójcik ◽  
Olga Jelonek ◽  
Małgorzata Maciorowska ◽  
...  

Background: Hyperuricemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including atrial fibrillation (AF). The prevalence of hyperuricemia and its clinical significance in patients with already diagnosed AF remain unexplored. Methods: The Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) registry includes consecutive patients with AF hospitalized in 10 Polish cardiology centers from January to December 2019. This analysis included patients in whom serum uric acid (SUA) was measured. Results: From 3999 POL-AF patients, 1613 were included in the analysis. The mean age of the subjects was 72 ± 11.6 years, and the mean SUA was 6.88 ± 1.93 mg/dL. Hyperuricemia was found in 43% of respondents. Eighty-four percent of the respondents were assigned to the high cardiovascular risk group, and 45% of these had SUA >7 mg/dL. Comparison of the extreme SUA groups (<5 mg/dL vs. >7 mg/dL) showed significant differences in renal parameters, total cholesterol concentration, and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Multivariate regression analysis showed that SUA >7 mg/dL (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.32–2.30) and GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.46–2.48) are significant markers of EF <40% in the study population. Female sex was a protective factor (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56–0.97). The cut-off point for SUA with 60% sensitivity and specificity indicative of an EF <40% was 6.9 mg/dL. Conclusions: Although rarely assessed, hyperuricemia appears to be common in patients with AF. High SUA levels may be a significant biomarker of reduced left ventricular EF in AF patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Marcusohn ◽  
O Kobo ◽  
M Postnikov ◽  
D Epstein ◽  
Y Agmon ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background  The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) induced cardiomyopathy can be challenging. It relies on ruling out other causes of dilated cardiomyopathy, upon recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) following return to sinus rhythm (SR). Aim  The aim of this study was to identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors for developing new dilated cardiomyopathy in patients with AF or atrial flutter (AFL). Methods  This is a retrospective study conducted in a large tertiary care center. Patients that suffered deterioration of LVEF under 50% during AF demonstrated by pre-cardioversion trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) were compared to those with preserved LV function during AF. All patients had documented preserved LVEF at baseline (EF &gt;50%) while in SR. Patients with a previous history of reduced LVEF during SR were excluded. Results From a total of 482 patients included in the final analysis, 80 (17%) patients had reduced LV function and 402 (83%) had preserved LV function during the pre-cardioversion TEE. Patients with reduced LVEF were more likely to be male and with a more rapid ventricular response during AF/AFL. A history of prosthetic valves was also identified as a risk factor for reduced LVEF. Patients with reduced LVEF also had higher incidence of TR and RV dysfunction. Conclusion In "real world" experience, male patients with rapid ventricular response during AF or AFL are more prone to LVEF reduction. Patients with prosthetic valves are also at risk for LVEF reduction during AF/AFL. Lastly, TR and RV dysfunction may indicate relatively long-standing AF with an associated reduction in LVEF.


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