1/533. FK506-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: report of two cases and review of the literature.BACKGROUND: FK506 is a recently developed immunosuppressant that has been useful in improving the survival of transplanted organs. Among the numerous adverse side effects of FK506, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) stands out as an infrequent but severe complication. methods: We report two cases of FK506-associated TMA and review the 19 previous reported cases. RESULTS: From these 21 cases, the reported incidence of FK506-associated TMA is between 1% and 4.7%. It is more frequent in females, and the mean age at presentation is 47 years. Eighty-one percent of the cases occurred in patients with kidney allografts, and the remaining patients had liver, heart, or bone marrow transplants. Clinically, TMA was diagnosed at an average interval of 9.3 months from the time of transplantation. patients may be asymptomatic or may present with the full-blown picture of hemolytic uremic syndrome. All patients had an elevated serum creatinine level but did not always show signs of hemolysis. Trough levels of FK506 were not predictive for the development of TMA, but generally a reduction of drug dose correlated with kidney function improvement and disappearance of the hemolytic picture. The renal allograft biopsy provided a conclusive diagnosis in all 17 cases in which this procedure was performed. Treatment, which mainly consisted of reduction or discontinuation of FK506, anticoagulation, and/or plasmapheresis with fresh-frozen plasma exchange, resolved TMA in most patients (57%). However, in one of these patients (5%), the graft was subsequently lost due to causes unrelated to TMA, such as acute or chronic rejection. Despite treatment, one patient (5%) lost the graft due to acute rejection and persistent TMA, and three other patients (14%) who had bone marrow, heart, and liver transplants, died of multiple organ failure, probably unrelated to TMA. In the remaining four patients (19%), response to treatment was not reported. CONCLUSIONS: TMA must be considered in organ transplant patients treated with FK506 whenever kidney function deteriorates, even in the absence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Although TMA usually responds to treatment, it may, in rare cases, lead to loss of kidney function or even the patient's death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/533. thrombosis of mitral valve prosthesis presenting as abdominal pain.A 67-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, anemia, and leukocytosis. Five years previously, the patient had undergone mitral valve replacement with a St. Jude bileaflet mechanical prosthesis. After her admission, echocardiography confirmed an immobile leaflet of the prosthetic valve. At urgent surgery, thrombosis and pannus, obstructing the disc, were found, and the mechanical valve was replaced with a bioprosthesis. The incidence of mitral valve thrombosis is low, ranging from 0.1% to 5.7% per patient per year. patients who receive inadequate anticoagulation, particularly with valve prostheses in the mitral position, have an increased risk for thrombus or pannus formation. Presentation varies, from symptoms of congestive heart failure or systemic embolization, to fever or no symptoms. New or worsening symptoms in a patient with a prosthetic heart valve should raise concerns about prosthetic dysfunction. Aggressive investigation and, if indicated, urgent or emergency surgery for treatment can be lifesaving.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 95.35212318977keywords = heart valve, valve, heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/533. Atrial tamponade causing acute ischemic hepatic injury after cardiac surgery.A patient developed late cardiac tamponade after aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting. nausea and dramatic elevations of serum aminotransferases were the initial clinical manifestations of cardiac tamponade. Severe acute ischemic hepatic injury secondary to isolated compression of both atrial cavities by two loculated thrombi was diagnosed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.6475055514331keywords = valve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/533. Successful replacement of a thrombosed Bjork-Shiley mitral valve prosthesis.A case is presented in which 7 months after the first mitral valve replacement (MVR) the malfunction of a Bjork-Shiley valve prosthesis was supposed and the thrombosed valve prosthesis was 2 months later successfully replaced. For the detection of the malfunction of the valve prosthesis echocardiography was especially useful.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 45.180044411465keywords = valve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/533. Massive left atrial thrombus: a case report.This case report describes a patient with aortic and mitral valvular disease who had a massive left atrial thrombus. The left atrial thrombus produced a disappearance of signs of mitral stenosis and a reversed pan diastolic mitral valve gradient. This gradient occurred in the absence of any diastolic mitral insufficiency and may have been due to artifactual lowering of the left atrial pressure by an organized left atrial clot.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.6475055514331keywords = valve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/533. Spontaneous native aortic valve thrombosis.Spontaneous thrombosis of a native aortic valve is an uncommon event that usually follows local trauma, such as cardiac surgery or left heart catheterization, or occurs as a complication of bacterial endocarditis. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with a history of retinal artery occlusion and severe aortic valve stenosis, in whom transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile mass attached to the ventricular surface of the aortic valve. There was no evidence of any hypercoagulable state or infection process. Surgery was performed and a severely stenotic valve resected; a partially organized and firmly adherent free-floating thrombotic mass was observed on the ventricular surface of the aortic valve. Histologic examination demonstrated an organized thrombus. Eleven months after surgery the patient is doing well.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 51.327549962898keywords = valve, heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/533. liver damage induced by coumarin anticoagulants.Except for bleeding complications, relevant adverse effects of coumarin anticoagulants are comparatively rare considering the widespread use of these substances. Here we present the case of a 56-year-old woman who developed recurrent episodes of severe hepatitis following repeated exposure to phenprocoumon (Marcumar; Roche, Grenzach-Wyhlen, germany) and warfarin (Coumadin; DuPont Pharma, Bad Homburg, germany) after replacement of the mitral valve with a mechanical prosthesis. The diagnosis of "coumarin-induced hepatitis" is compatible with the time relationship between start of the drug and the onset of hepatopathy (first episode 8 months, second episode 4 weeks, and third episode 7 days), the rapid improvement following discontinuation of the drug, recurrence of liver dysfunction after re-exposure to the drug, and liver histology. After anticoagulant therapy was changed to heparin and acenocoumarol (Sintrom; Ciba-Geigy, Basel, switzerland), the patient's general state was markedly improved and her liver values became almost normal. This case will be discussed and compared with other reports of coumarin-induced hepatic lesions. Although liver damage induced by coumarin derivates is rare, it is important to be aware of the hepatotoxic potential of these drugs, which, in most cases, mimics the clinical presentation of viral hepatitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.6475055514331keywords = valve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/533. Primary antiphospholipid syndrome: a cause of catastrophic shunt thrombosis in the newborn.This is a unique report of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt thromboses secondary to primary antiphospholipid syndrome and antithrombin iii deficiency in a neonate with cyanotic congenital heart disease. This infant with tricuspid atresia experienced thromboses of two modified Blalock-Taussig shunts en route to a bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt and potential future Fontan operation. Chronic warfarin anticoagulation has prevented additional thrombo-embolic events.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/533. Atrial thrombosis in cardiac amyloidosis: diagnostic contribution of transesophageal echocardiography.Few cases of atrial thrombosis detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in cardiac amyloidosis have been reported recently. We present the cases of 3 consecutive patients affected by AL-type cardiac amyloidosis, symptomatic for heart failure and in sinus rhythm. All patients had a cardiac restrictive pattern at Doppler examination. TEE showed left atrial thrombus in 2 patients and biatrial thrombi in 1 patient; conventional transthoracic echocardiography detected only 1 left atrial thrombus. Our experience confirms the association between cardiac amyloidosis and atrial thrombosis, even in sinus rhythm. TEE should be considered to assess thromboembolic risk in all cases of cardiac amyloidosis with severe diastolic dysfunction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/533. Co-existing left atrial thrombus and myxoma in mitral stenosis--a diagnostic challenge.We report an unusual case of an adult who underwent a mitral valve replacement with concomitant excision of the left atrial myxoma and thrombus. echocardiography showed the presence of a large "thrombus" within the left atrial appendage, body and atrial septum. There was difficulty in trying to distinguish between the atrial thrombus and myxoma due to their morphological similarities. At time of surgery, frozen section confirmed the atrial septal component of the thrombus to be an atrial myxoma and the atrial septum was excised to obtain a clear margin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.6475055514331keywords = valve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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