Left Atrial Thrombus and Cardioembolic Stroke in Chagas Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Atrial Flutter: A Case Report
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Case Report
3.1. Diagnostic Approach
3.2. Therapeutic Intervention
3.3. Clinical Follow-Up and Outcomes
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| CGS | Glasgow Coma Scale |
| mRS | modified Rankin Scale |
| AHA/ASA | American Heart Association/American Stroke Association |
| ASPECTS | Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score |
| NIHSS | National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale |
| LVEF | left ventricular ejection fraction |
| ACM | Middle Cerebral Artery |
| CT | Computed Tomography |
| ECG | Electrocardiogram |
| INR | International Normalized Ratio |
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| Scale | Assessed Parameters/Relevant Subcomponents | Score Obtained | Total Possible Score | Clinical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) | Level of consciousness (1a–1c): 0 | 9 | 0–42 | Moderate neurological deficit |
| Eye movements and visual fields (2–3): 0 | ||||
| Facial palsy (4): 2 (left deviation) | ||||
| left arm motor function (5a): 3 | ||||
| left leg motor function (6a): 3 | ||||
| Language (9): 0 (no aphasia) | ||||
| Dysarthria (10): 1 (mild) | ||||
| Other items (ataxia, sensation, extinction): 0 | ||||
| Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) | Eye opening (O): 4 | 11/15 | 3–15 | Preserved consciousness; patient alert and oriented |
| Verbal response (V): 5 | ||||
| Motor response (M): 6 | ||||
| Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) | 0: No symptoms or functional limitations | 0 | 0–6 | Complete baseline functional independence before the event |
| 1: Mild symptoms without significant disability | ||||
| 2–5: Mild to severe disability |
| Time Point | Setting | Key Clinical Events & Findings | Diagnostics | Treatment | Outcome/Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| −10 months | Outpatient | Chronic Chagas disease confirmed (T. cruzi IgG+). No etiologic treatment; irregular follow-up. | Serology | None (etiologic) | — |
| Months pre-admission | Outpatient | Recurrent, self-limited palpitations and mild exertional dyspnea. No known structural heart disease. | — | — | — |
| T0 (symptom onset, at rest) | Community | Sudden oppressive chest pain, severe dyspnea, rapid irregular palpitations, transient loss of consciousness; acute left-sided weakness with dysarthria and facial deviation. | — | — | — |
| T0 + ED arrival | Emergency Dept. | Stroke code activated. NIHSS 9, GCS 11/15, premorbid mRS 0. | ECG: typical atrial flutter with rapid ventricular response. Non-contrast CT brain: right MCA ischemic stroke (ASPECTS 7), no hemorrhage. | Supportive acute stroke care | Acute ischemic stroke suspected/confirmed |
| Early inpatient workup (Day 0) | Hospital | Suspected cardioembolic source in context of arrhythmia/Chagas cardiomyopathy. | TTE: severe LA dilation + mobile LA thrombus; LVEF 45%. Labs: no major abnormalities; mild troponin I and NT-proBNP elevation. | — | Cardioembolic mechanism supported |
| ≤4.5 h from T0 | Hospital | Cardioembolic ischemic stroke diagnosis. | — | IV alteplase (thrombolysis). IV amiodarone for rhythm/rate control. | Stabilization after reperfusion therapy |
| First 24 h | Hospital | Hemodynamic and neurological stability. | Follow-up CT: no hemorrhagic transformation. | Continue monitoring/management | No bleeding complications documented |
| 48 h | Hospital | Marked neurological improvement. | — | — | NIHSS 3; dysarthria resolved; left strength improved (Daniels 4+/5) |
| Hospital course (after hemorrhage exclusion) | Hospital | Secondary prevention initiated. | Risk scores documented: CHA2DS2-VASc 3, HAS-BLED 1. | Warfarin anticoagulation started; transition to oral amiodarone. | Ongoing stability |
| Follow-up echocardiography | Hospital | Persistent LA thrombus, stable/partially organized; no fragmentation signs. | TTE: persistent thrombus; LVEF 48%. | Continue anticoagulation + rhythm control | Thrombus stable; preserved LV function |
| Day 7 (discharge) | Discharge | Clinically stable, minimal deficits. | — | Discharged on oral anticoagulation + rhythm control; outpatient follow-up scheduled. | NIHSS 2, mRS 1 |
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Moreno-Bejarano, M.S.; Silva-Patiño, I.; Aragón-Jácome, A.C.; Aguilar, J.E.; Cepeda-Zaldumbide, A.S.; Velez-Reyes, A.; Salazar-Santoliva, C.; Vasconez-Gonzalez, J.; Izquierdo-Condoy, J.S.; Ortiz-Prado, E. Left Atrial Thrombus and Cardioembolic Stroke in Chagas Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Atrial Flutter: A Case Report. J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15, 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020456
Moreno-Bejarano MS, Silva-Patiño I, Aragón-Jácome AC, Aguilar JE, Cepeda-Zaldumbide AS, Velez-Reyes A, Salazar-Santoliva C, Vasconez-Gonzalez J, Izquierdo-Condoy JS, Ortiz-Prado E. Left Atrial Thrombus and Cardioembolic Stroke in Chagas Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Atrial Flutter: A Case Report. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026; 15(2):456. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020456
Chicago/Turabian StyleMoreno-Bejarano, Mauricio Sebastián, Israel Silva-Patiño, Andrea Cristina Aragón-Jácome, Juan Esteban Aguilar, Ana Sofía Cepeda-Zaldumbide, Angela Velez-Reyes, Camila Salazar-Santoliva, Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, and Esteban Ortiz-Prado. 2026. "Left Atrial Thrombus and Cardioembolic Stroke in Chagas Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Atrial Flutter: A Case Report" Journal of Clinical Medicine 15, no. 2: 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020456
APA StyleMoreno-Bejarano, M. S., Silva-Patiño, I., Aragón-Jácome, A. C., Aguilar, J. E., Cepeda-Zaldumbide, A. S., Velez-Reyes, A., Salazar-Santoliva, C., Vasconez-Gonzalez, J., Izquierdo-Condoy, J. S., & Ortiz-Prado, E. (2026). Left Atrial Thrombus and Cardioembolic Stroke in Chagas Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Atrial Flutter: A Case Report. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(2), 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020456

