Resolution of spontaneous contrast with platelet disaggregatory therapy (trifluoperazine)

Spontaneous contrast is the term used to describe the echocardiographic appearance of discrete reflectances in intracardiac blood, described as smoke-like, that is most commonly seen in patients with mitral valve disease or left ventricular dysfunction. 1 Although the pathogenesis of spontaneous contrast is unknown, its association with conditions in which blood stasis is likely has led investigators to propose red cell aggregation as the cause. This report describes the disappearance of contrast with platelet-disaggregating therapy.