Inherited Thrombophilia as a Risk Factor for Persistent Left Ventricular Thrombus Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) commonly complicates ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), and up to 30% of LVT may persist despite anticoagulation. Data linking post-MI LVT and inherited thrombophilias are sparse. A total of 148 consecutive MI patients with LVT at a mean age of 63.9 (6.9) years were referred for further workup. After 3 months of oral anticoagulation, screening for factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin G20210A variant, protein S, protein C, and antithrombin deficiency was performed. Subjects with antiphospholipid syndrome were not eligible. Thrombus persistence was assessed after 3 and 6 months of anticoagulation. Inherited thrombophilias were identified in 34 (23%) patients, including 18 (52.9%) with FVL, 9 (26.5%) with prothrombin G20210A variant, 3 (8.8%) with protein C deficiency, and 4 (11.8%) with protein S deficiency. Carriers of thrombophilias were similar to non-thrombophilic subjects, except for higher fibrinogen in the former group. Inherited thrombophilias were associated with LVT persistence after 3 and 6 months post MI (25 [73.5%] vs. 50 [43.9%], p = 0.002 and 20 [58.8%] vs. 24 [21.1%], p < 0.001, respectively). Inherited thrombophilias were independently associated with an increased risk of persistent LVT 3 and 6 months post MI (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.13–6.74, p = 0.026 and OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.57–10.51, p = 0.004, respectively). Our findings suggest that inherited thrombophilias may predispose to LVT persistence despite anticoagulation in MI survivors. Thrombophilia screening may help identify a subgroup likely to benefit from prolonged anticoagulation.