Anticardiolipin antibodies and left atrial thrombus as indicators for increased risk of thromboembolic events in patients with isolated mitral stenosis

ABSTRACT

The study population consisted of 113 non-anticoagulated patients with Mitral stenosis [MS] and 20 healthy control subjects. Serum levels of IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies [ACLs] were determined in all patients and control subjects. Transthoracic echocardiographic [TTE] and transesophageal echocardiographic [TEE] studies were performed in all patients to measure cardiac chambers, mitral valve area [MVA] and left ventricular ejection fraction [EF%] and to examine left atrial [LA] appendage [LAa] and LA for the presence of thrombi. In conclusion, anticardiolipin antibodies either IgG or IgM was commonly detected in patients with MS. There was a significant association between +ve ACLs and LA thrombi detected by TEE. So, these antibodies could be considered as a warning tool for thrombus formation and seem to be considered an independent risk factor for thrombembolic events in patients with mitral stenosis