New-Onset Heart Failure and Ischemic Stroke in Non-compaction Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy is an embryological disorder of endocardial trabeculation and can cause heart failure, arrhythmias, and thromboembolism. Lifelong anticoagulation is indicated in patients with reduced ejection fraction due to high risks of thromboembolism. Reduced ejection fraction can develop in these patients as a consequence of this cardiomyopathy, thereby increasing the risk of intracardiac thrombus formation. This new-onset reduced ejection fraction may develop rapidly, which may not be amenable to detection by routine screening. We present a case of non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCC) with a previously normal ejection fraction who had an ischemic stroke and was found to have new-onset reduced ejection fraction.