title: Comparison of frequency of left atrial thrombus in patients with mechanical prosthetic cardiac valves and stroke versus transient ischemic attacks.
abstract: Transesophageal echocardiography performed in a group of 36 patients who had a first cerebral embolic event after implantation of a mechanical cardiac valvular prosthesis revealed that stroke is associated with the presence of left atrial thrombi more frequently than transient ischemic attacks. Intracardiac embolic sources other than thrombi are possibly related more often to the latter type of cerebral embolism in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Athens, Hippokration Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbetseas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitsavos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aggeli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Psarros
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frogoudaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lambrou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toutouzas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*