Intracardiac thrombosis in Behçet’s disease: a rare complication

Ghita Saghi, Nawal Doghmi

PAMJ. 2013; 15:91. Published 09 Jul 2013 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.91.2635

A 13 year-old boy with BD since 2007 was admitted in May 2012 for dyspnea and prolonged fever for 2 months. A physical examination did not reveal signs of heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a homogeneous mass attached to the right ventricle. We complemented with an magnetic resonance Imaging scan (MRI) that revealed a voluminous, mobile thrombus in the right ventricle and a massive pulmonary embolism. We opted for a conservative treatment: Heparin, oral anticoagulation and Methylprednisolone followed by Prednisone . The outcome was favorable under medical treatment. Cardiovascular disease in Behçet’s disease varies from 7 to 29% of reported cases and is represented mainly by endocarditis, pericarditis and myocardial infarction. Intracardiac thrombosis (ICT) is exceptional and can since the first case described at necropsy by Buge in 1977, only about 50 cases of ICT have been reported. The association with pulmonary embolism is serious and life-threatening.
Corresponding author
Ghita Saghi, Cardiologie B, CHU IBN SINA, Rabat, Maroc (gsaghi1@hotmail.fr)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

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