Resolution of a left ventricular thrombus by the thrombolytic action of dabigatran

Abstract

A 77-year-old man was referred to our cardiovascular department for detailed examination after abnormal electrocardiography findings were obtained during a preoperative cataract surgery workup. Ultrasound echocardiography (UCG) and computed tomography (CT) revealed evidence of previous myocardial infarction with anteroseptal akinesis and a left ventricular (LV) thrombus (14 × 12 mm). Dabigatran (220 mg/day) was prescribed as an outpatient treatment, and the disappearance of the LV thrombus was confirmed by UCG and CT 27 days after dabigatran initiation. No thromboembolism occurred between treatment initiation and thrombus resolution. Our results indicate that dabigatran has thrombolytic action on an acute pre-existing intracardiac thrombus.