title: Incidence and predictors of left atrial thrombus in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) predisposes to left atrial (LA) thrombus formation. The reported incidence of LA clot formation in sinus rhythm (SR) is 2.4-13.5% in small studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of LA thrombus in MS in SR in a large cohort of patients and to determine the factors that predict its development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total of 848 consecutive patients with MS in SR who were being evaluated for percutaneous transvenous mitral commisurotomy were included in the study. Both transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE) were performed to identify clot and other hemodynamic parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study population was 34 ± 9 years and the mean mitral orifice area was 0.78 ± 0.18 cm(2). Out of 848 patients 56 (6.6%) had LA thrombus on TEE. On univariate analysis there was a trend toward thrombus formation in individuals with age >44 years, LA inferosuperior dimension >6.9 cm, mean mitral gradient >18 mmHg and dense spontaneous echo contrast (SEC). On multivariate analysis none of the factors predicted clot formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of LA thrombus in MS in SR is 6.6%. TEE is warranted in MS patients in SR when they are >44 years, LA inferosuperior dimension >6.9 cm and mean mitral gradient >18 mmHg. When SEC is absent on TEE, thrombus formation is unlikely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. cnm_vidhatri@satyam.net.in
authors.forename: Cholenahally Nanjappa
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Manjunath
authors.forename: Kikkeri Hermanna Setty
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Srinivasa
authors.forename: Arunkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panneerselvam
authors.forename: Bhat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prabhavathi
authors.forename: Khandenahally Shankarappa
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ravindranath
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rangan
authors.forename: Chandrasekaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dhanalakshmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications*