Intracardiac thrombus in a young man: don't forget Behçet's disease!

Intern Med. 2012;51(14):1865-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7640. Epub 2012 Jul 15.

Abstract

Intracardiac thrombosis is an exceptional complication of Behçet's disease. The management of this involvement is difficult due to the risk of recurrence. We present the case of a young man admitted to our hospital for intermittent fever. The microbiologic investigations did not show any causative germ. We discovered a right ventricle thrombus on echocardiography. We confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism on CT angiogram. The patient developed oral and genital ulcerations which were consistent with Behçet's syndrome. The thrombus had disappeared after treatment with anticoagulant, corticosteroid and immunosuppressors. Intracardiac thrombosis can reveal Behçet's disease. An exhaustive examination and close monitoring should be performed in order to reveal pathognomonic signs as soon as possible and to promptly start the appropriate treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Behcet Syndrome / complications*
  • Behcet Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Behcet Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis
  • Heart Diseases / drug therapy
  • Heart Diseases / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology
  • Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Thrombosis / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anticoagulants
  • Immunosuppressive Agents