Pulmonary emboli from a platelet-rich thrombus attached to a pacemaker electrode.
A patient with recurrent, fatal pulmonary emboli originating from thrombus attached to a permanently-implanted pacemaker electrode is described. While most thromboemboli are composed predominantly of fibrin and erythrocytes, histologic and immunologic studies showed this thrombus to be rich in platelets. A possible therapeutic approach to this rare situation is discussed.
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000592:standards*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000032:analysis; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000473:pathology
D005340:Fibrinogen; D010960:Plasminogen Activators