Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with echocardiographic left ventricular spontaneous echo contrast

Background Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is a known precursor to thrombus formation and thromboembolic events. This study aims to demonstrate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with left ventricular spontaneous echo contrast (LV-SEC). Methods Patients with consecutive echocardiogram performed from October 2009 to September 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective, single-center study. Those with LV-SEC were included, while patients complicated by left ventricular thrombus, with history of infective endocarditis, prosthetic valves, or lost to follow-up were excluded. The clinical endpoint was 1-year thromboembolic events (i.e. stroke and peripheral embolism). Results Among 417 patients (mean age 63.5 ± 14.7 years; 86.8% men) with LV-SEC, the incidence of 1-year embolism was 12.9%. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, significant risk factors for thromboembolic event were age [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.022, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.000–1.045], atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR = 2.292, 95% CI: 1.237–4.244), hemoglobin (HR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.017–1.047), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR = 1.021, 95% CI: 1.002–1.041), and anticoagulant therapy (HR = 0.310, 95% CI: 0.168–0.572). For patients with repeated measurements for echocardiography, D-dimer (HR = 1.137, 95% CI: 1.051–1.231), and △LVEF (HR = 0.961, 95% CI: 0.928–0.996) were independently associated with the persistent LV-SEC. Conclusion The present study reported a high incidence of 1-year thromboembolic event in patients with LV-SEC. Age, AF, hemoglobin, LVEF were independent risk factors for 1-year embolism and a reduced risk of embolism was observed among patients with anticoagulation therapy. Additionally, D-dimer and △LVEF are independently associated with the persistent LV-SEC.