LEFT-VENTRICULAR SPONTANEOUS ECHO CONTRAS T BY TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY - COMPLETE REGRESSION OF A LARGE LEFT-VENTRICULAR THROMBOSIS WITH ANTICOAGULANT-THERAPY

The authors report the case of a 69 year old man with a large left ven tricular thrombosis complicating anterior myocardial infarction occurr ing three years previously for which anticoagulant therapy had to be w ithdrawn. The discussion is based around the large size of the thrombu s, its complete regression with anticoagulant therapy (heparin and cou marin-derivative) and also around the detection of spontaneous echo co ntrast in the left ventricle by transoesophageal echocardiography. Thi s case underlines the probable risk of withdrawing anticoagulant thera py in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and left ventr icular spontaneous contrast.