left ventricular thrombus

LVT occurs most often during the first 2 weeks following AMI. AMI patients most at risk display the 3 characteristics of Virchow's triad:

The risk of LVT formation increases as infarction size increases. A larger infarction means a larger area of tissue injury, which may be akinetic or dyskinetic, resulting in stagnation of ventricular blood.

Monocytes and macrophages play important roles in healing after myocardial infarction. With the absence of monocytes and macrophages, chances of LVT formation are very high. Failure to clear cellular debris from the infarct compromises the endothelial lining of the left ventricle and exposes the damaged tissue to the blood.Frantz, S., Hofmann, U., Fraccarollo, D., Schäfer, A., Kranepuhl, S., Hagedorn, I., Nieswandt, B., Nahrendorf, M., Wagner, H., Bayer, B., Pachel, C., Schon, M., Kneitz, S., Bobinger, T., Weidemann, F., Ertl, G., Bauersachs, J. (2012). Monocytes/ macrophages prevent healing defects and left ventricular thrombus formation after myocardial infarction. The FASEB Journal. The response is to build a thrombus composed of fibrin, red blood cells and platelets.

For several days after AMI, the levels of tissue factor and D-dimer, which are involved in coagulation, are high, which increases the risk of LVT formation. LVT may be good for the heart when tissues are severely damaged because it acts to thicken the wall, thus protecting it against rupture.

Echocardiography is the main diagnostic tool for LVT. A distinct mass is visible in the left ventricle. Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging are effective, but less common ways to detect LVT, due to their costs and risks. It is possible to assess whether a thrombus will become an embolus through echocardiography. Mobility and protrusion of the thrombus are two characteristics associated with increased embolic potential.{{cite journal |vauthors=Haugland JM, Asinger RW, Mikell FL, Elsperger J, Hodges M | year = 1984 | title = Embolic potential of left ventricular thrombi detected by two-dimensional echocardiography | journal = Circulation | volume = 70 | issue = 4 | pages = 588–598 | doi=10.1161/01.cir.70.4.588| pmid = 6478564 | doi-access = free }}

File:UOTW 24 - Ultrasound of the Week 1.webm|Thrombus of the left ventricle resulting in embolism of the spleen{{cite web|title=UOTW #24 - Ultrasound of the Week|url=https://www.ultrasoundoftheweek.com/uotw-24/|website=Ultrasound of the Week|access-date=27 May 2017|date=6 November 2014}}

File:UOTW 24 - Ultrasound of the Week 2.webm|Thrombus of the left ventricle resulting in embolism of the spleen

File:UOTW 24 - Ultrasound of the Week 3.webm|Thrombus of the left ventricle resulting in embolism of the spleen

File:UOTW 24 - Ultrasound of the Week 4.jpg|Thrombus of the left ventricle resulting in embolism of the spleen

After an AMI, people should be treated to prevent LVT formation. Aspirin plus an oral anticoagulant such as warfarin are suggested for individuals at risk for thromboembolic events.{{cite journal | author = Van de Werf F., Staff E. S. C. | year = 2008 | title = ESC Guidelines on the Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients Presenting with STEMI | doi =10.1093/eurheartj/ehn416 | journal = European Heart Journal | volume = 29 | issue = 23 | pages = 2909–2945 | pmid = 19004841 | doi-access = free }} Anticoagulants are also shown to reduce the risk of embolisms when a thrombus is already formed. Heparin, an injectable, fast-acting anticoagulant, is effective in high doses for preventing LVT formation after AMI.{{cite journal |author1=Turpie A. G. |author2=Robinson J. G. |author3=Doyle D. J. |author4=Mulji A. S. |author5=Mishkel G. J. |author6=Sealey B. J. |author7=Cairns J.A. |author8=Skingley L. |author9=Hirsh J. |author10=Gent M. | year = 1989 | title = Comparison of high-dose with low-dose subcutaneous heparin to prevent left ventricular mural thrombosis in patients with acute transmural anterior myocardial infarction | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 320 | issue = 6| pages = 352–357 | doi=10.1056/nejm198902093200604 | pmid=2643772}}

Systemic anticoagulation is considered first-line medical therapy for LVT, as it reduces the risk of systemic embolism.{{Cite journal|last1=Vaitkus|first1=P. T.|last2=Barnathan|first2=E. S.|date=October 1993|title=Embolic potential, prevention and management of mural thrombus complicating anterior myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis|journal=Journal of the American College of Cardiology|volume=22|issue=4|pages=1004–1009|issn=0735-1097|pmid=8409034|doi=10.1016/0735-1097(93)90409-t|doi-access=}} There are also surgical procedures for removal of a thrombus (thrombectomy).

The rate of LVT formation after AMI is thought to be declining{{cite journal |author1=Asinger R. W. |author2=Mikell F. L. |author3=Elsperger J. |author4=Hodges M. | year = 1981 | title = Incidence of left- ventricular thrombosis after acute transmural myocardial infarction. Serial evaluation by two-dimensional echocardiography | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 305 | issue = 6| pages = 297–302 | doi=10.1056/nejm198108063050601 | pmid=7242633}}{{cite journal |author1=Stokman P. J. |author2=Nandra C. S. |author3=Asinger R. W. | year = 2001 | title = Left ventricular thrombus | journal = Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine | volume = 3 | issue = 6| pages = 515–521 | doi=10.1007/s11936-001-0025-6|pmid=11696271 |s2cid=3734965 }} due to the use of better therapies and percutaneous coronary intervention used to treat myocardial infarction.{{cite journal |author1=Solheim S. |author2=Seljeflot I. |author3=Lunde K. |author4=Bratseth V. |author5=Aakhus S. |author6=Forfang K. |author7=Arnesen H. | year = 2013 | title = Prothrombotic markers in patients with acute myocardial infarction and left ventricular thrombus formation treated with pci and dual antiplatelet therapy | journal = Thrombosis Journal | volume = 11 | issue = 1| pages = 1–6 | doi=10.1186/1477-9560-11-1| pmc=3554510 | pmid=23311309 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |author1=Osherov A. B. |author2=Borovik-Raz M. |author3=Aronson D. |author4=Agmon Y. |author5=Kapeliovich M. |author6=Kerner A. |author7=Grenadier E. |author8=Hammerman H. |author9=Nikolsky E. |author10=Roguin A. | year = 2009 | title = Incidence of early left ventricular thrombus after acute anterior wall myocardial infarction in the primary coronary intervention era | journal = American Heart Journal | volume = 157 | issue = 6| pages = 1074–1080 | doi=10.1016/j.ahj.2009.03.020|pmid=19464419 }} In the modern era LVT formation after ST elevation MI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention is low, estimated at only 2.7%.{{Cite journal|last1=Robinson|first1=Austin A.|last2=Jain|first2=Amit|last3=Gentry|first3=Mark|last4=McNamara|first4=Robert L.|date=2016-10-15|title=Left ventricular thrombi after STEMI in the primary PCI era: A systematic review and meta-analysis|journal=International Journal of Cardiology|volume=221|pages=554–559|doi=10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.07.069|issn=1874-1754|pmid=27424314}} However, incidence of LVT is considered higher in anterior wall AMI, compared with other types.{{cite journal |author1=Zielinska M. |author2=Kaczmarek K. |author3=Tylkowski M. | year = 2008 | title = Predictors of left ventricular thrombus formation in acute myocardial infarction treated with successful primary angioplasty with stenting | journal = Am J Med Sci | volume = 335 |issue=3 | pages = 171–176 | doi=10.1097/maj.0b013e318142be20|pmid=18344689 |s2cid=23786142 }}

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Category:Cardiovascular diseases