case series study of 26 subjects with left ventricular thrombus-to see its etiology and left ventricular function

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the left ventricular function and determine etiology of left ventricular thrombus in 26 cases. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Medical Unit of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad. Patient and Method: Patients with left ventricular thrombi diagnosed with echocardiography from May 1999 to June 2001 were studied for its etiology and left ventricular function. Fifty-six% of left ventricular thrombus cases were due to chronic ischemic heart disease while 36% had dilated cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular aneurysm was seen in 7.8% cases. Mean age was 54 +/- 3 years with 74% males and 26% females. Mean ejection fraction was 22 +/- 2.5% in dilated cardiomyopathy cases while it was 35 +/- 17% in cases with underlying coronary artery disease. Chronic ischemic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy are the main causes associated with left ventricular thrombi. Impaired left ventricular function is a common denominator in these cases