Significance of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and D-dimer in evaluating intracardiac thrombus and spontaneous echo contrast in patients referred for transesophageal echocardiography: A prospective study

Mohammed Abu-Mahfouz, João L. Cavalcante, Muhammad Arida, Jose Garcia, Mouaz Al-Mallah, Andrzej Boguszewski, Shamael Haque, Mohammed Rehman, Firas Al Badarin, Eyad Akhras, Lonni Schultz, Panayiotis Mitsias, Mohsin Alam, Karthik Ananthasubramaniam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Intra-cardiac thrombus (ICT) and spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) are considered hypercoagulable and inflammatory conditions. We aimed to determine if high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer (DD), in combination with variables of lower thrombotic risk (normal ejection fraction [NEF], sinus rhythm [NSR]), may predict the absence of ICT/SEC. Methods and Results: Consecutive patients referred for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) for evaluation of cardioembolic source were prospectively enrolled. CRP and DD levels were determined at the time of TEE. 124 patients were enrolled, of whom 21 had ICT/SEC. The combination of NSR/NEF had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.6% for absence of ICT/SEC. The NPVs of CRP and DD were 93.6% and 85%, respectively. Adding either CRP or DD to NSR/NEF combination increased the NPV to 100%. Log CRP was significantly associated with ICT/SEC. Conclusions: The presence of NSR and NEF may defer the need for TEE for ICT/SEC evaluation. CRP association with ICT/SEC suggests that inflammation plays a role in ICT/ /SEC formation. Whether CRP and DD should become routine in the triage process of TEE for ICT/SEC evaluation requires further large scale prospective studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-273
Number of pages7
JournalCardiology Journal
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

Keywords

  • C-reactive protein
  • D-dimer
  • Intracardiac thrombus
  • Spontaneous echocardiography contrast
  • Transesophageal echocardiography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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