Thrombosis, especially venous thromboembolism, is a complication often associated with COVID-19. However, there have been relatively few reports of arterial thrombosis. Here, we describe a case of non-severe COVID-19 in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy. After admission, symptoms, laboratory data, and imaging findings improved, but D-dimer levels gradually increased. Contrast computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography revealed a left ventricular thrombus. Anti-coagulant treatment diminished the thrombus, and the patient recovered and was discharged. Although a left ventricular thrombus is a rare COVID-19 complication, performing appropriate diagnostic tests could improve COVID-19 mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Background
Subclinical leaflet thrombosis, characterized by hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) on multidetector computed tomography, is common after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Because little is known about the long‐term natural history of subclinical HALT, we aimed to investigate this in patients who underwent TAVR without using additional anticoagulation.
Methods and Results
We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent TAVR with the Edwards SAPIEN‐XT at our institute between October 2013 and December 2015. Patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of HALT within 1 year after TAVR (HALT and No‐HALT groups). The primary outcome, defined as the composite of all‐cause mortality, heart failure readmission, and ischemic stroke, was compared. Valve performance was assessed over time by transthoracic echocardiography. Among 124 patients (men: 29.1%; median age, 85 years), 27 (21.8%) showed HALT on multidetector computed tomography within 1 year after TAVR. No patient required additional anticoagulation for treating HALT because of the absence of valve‐related symptomatic deterioration. During the median follow‐up period of 4.7 years (interquartile range, 4.0–5.6), the rate of primary outcome and valve performance was not statistically different between the 2 groups (37.0% versus 38.1%; log‐rank test
P
=0.92; mean pressure gradient, 9 mm Hg [8–14 mm Hg] versus 10 mm Hg [7–15 mm Hg];
P
=0.51, respectively).
Conclusions
Approximately 20% of patients after TAVR had HALT within 1 year; however, that did not change the risk of subsequent adverse cardiovascular events or the valve performance with statistical significance for up to 5 years despite no additional anticoagulation therapy.
BackgroundExtra-cardiac vascular diseases (ECVDs), such as cerebrovascular disease (CVD) or peripheral arterial disease (PAD), are frequently observed among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, it is not clear how these conditions affect patient outcomes in the era of transradial coronary intervention (TRI).Methods and resultsAmong 7,980 patients with ACS whose data were extracted from the multicenter Japanese percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry between August 2008 and March 2017, 888 (11.1%) had one concurrent ECVD (either PAD [345 patients: 4.3%] or CVD [543 patients; 6.8%]), while 87 patients (1.1%) had both PAD and CVD. Overall, the presence of ECVD was associated with a higher risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.728; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.183–2.524) and bleeding complications (OR: 1.430; 95% CI: 1.028–2.004). There was evidence of interaction between ECVD severity and procedural access site on bleeding complication on the additive scale (relative excess risk due to interaction: 0.669, 95% CI: -0.563–1.900) and on the multiplicative scale (OR: 2.105; 95% CI: 1.075–4.122). While the incidence of death among patients with ECVD remained constant during the study period, bleeding complications among patients with ECVD rapidly decreased from 2015 to 2017, in association with the increasing number of TRI.ConclusionsOverall, the presence of ECVD was a risk factor for adverse outcomes after PCI for ACS, both mortality and bleeding complications. In the most recent years, the incidence of bleeding complications among patients with ECVD decreased significantly coinciding with the rapid increase of TRI.
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