Evaluation of intravascular hemolysis with erythrocyte creatine in patients with cardiac valve prostheses

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To detect intravascular hemolysis in patients with cardiac valve prostheses. Erythrocyte creatine, a marker of erythrocyte age that increases with shortening erythrocyte survival, was evaluated with other hemolytic markers and hemodynamic parameters. DESIGN: Prospective study. Patients and measurements: Erythrocyte creatine was enzymatically assayed in 33 patients with prosthetic valves, including 15 patients with aortic valve replacement, 13 patients with mitral valve replacement, and 5 patients with double-valve (aortic and mitral) replacement, and 33 control subjects. Blood flow velocity and valvular regurgitation were determined by Doppler echocardiography. Other hemolytic markers (lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], reticulocyte count, and haptoglobin) and cardiac muscle markers (myoglobin and myosin light chain 1) were also measured. RESULTS: Erythrocyte creatine and LDH levels were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) and the haptoglobin level was lower (p < 0.0001) in patients with a prosthetic valve as compared with control subjects. However, there were no significant differences in these markers between those with (n = 17) and without (n = 16) regurgitation. Patients with high erythrocyte creatine levels (> 1.8 micro mol/g hemoglobin) exhibited significantly higher total peak flow velocity (sum of peak flow velocities at mitral and aortic valves) than those with normal erythrocyte creatine levels (p = 0.006). Erythrocyte creatine had a significant correlation with total peak flow velocity (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001), but LDH and haptoglobin had no significant correlation with total peak flow velocity. Patients with high LDH levels (> 460 IU/L) showed significantly higher myoglobin (p = 0.008) and myosin light chain 1 (p = 0.02) than those with normal LDH levels, whereas erythrocyte creatine was not related to cardiac muscle markers. CONCLUSIONS: Erythrocyte creatine is a quantitative and reliable marker for intravascular hemolysis in patients with prosthetic valves. Mild hemolysis is ascribable to valvular flow velocity rather than regurgitation.     

Chronic intravascular hemolysis after aortic valve replacement with Ionescu-Shiley xenograft: Comparative study with Bjork-Shiley prosthesis

Twenty patients with a prosthetic valve (Ionescu-Shiley or Bjork-Shiley) in the aortic position were studied for evidence of intravascular hemolysis. Serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum haptoglobin levels were used as the most sensitive indicators of hemolysis. Elevated concentrations of lactic dehydrogenase were found in all 10 patients with an Ionescu-Shiley prosthesis (mean 402 IU/liter) and in 7 of 10 patients with a Bjork-Shiley prosthesis (mean 234 IU/liter). The mean serum haptoglobin was 15 mg/dl (range 10 to 28) in patients with the Ionescu-Shiley valve and 96 mg/dl (15 to 284) for those with the Bjork-Shiley valve. This study indicates the presence of chronic intravascular hemolysis in patients with the Ionescu-Shiley aortic valve. The increase in lactic dehydrogenase was significantly greater in patients with the Ionescu-Shiley prosthesis than in those with the Bjork-Shiley prosthesis, indicating a slightly shorter red cell life span in the former group.     

Hemolytic anemia in patients with heart valve prosthesis

This article analyzes the historic evolution of the Starr-Edwards prosthesis manufacture and its association to hemolysis. It describes also the information related to bioprosthesis and hemolysis. The mechanisms involved in mechanical hemolysis are discussed (turbulent flux, red cells trapping, construction material and autoimmunity). Reviews the pathophysiology and criteria for clinical and laboratory diagnosis of hemolysis. We describe the value of the quantitation of unconjugated bilirubin, free plasmatic hemoglobin, DHL and it's DHL1 iso enzyme, methemalbumin and urinary hemosiderin for the specific diagnosis of this entity. Finally we comment on the utility of bed rest, cellular maturity inductors, propranolol and sulfinpyrazone therapy for the control of the hemolytic process.     

Severe intravascular hemolysis following mitral valve repair

We report two cases of severe intravascular hemolysis (IVH) following mitral valve repair using a Cosgrove-Edwards ring. In both cases, the degree of mitral regurgitation (MR) seen postoperatively worsened significantly compared to intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram. Both patients required reoperation with mitral valve replacement with immediate resolution of the hemolysis. We hypothesize that the mitral regurgitation in the setting of an inadequate mitral valve repair is responsible for the hemolysis and propose various mechanisms to explain this pathophysiology. Although IVH remains a rare complication following mitral valve repair, possible screening recommendations should be considered for early detection and treatment given the growing number of mitral valve repairs being performed.     

风湿性心脏病瓣膜置换术216例临床分析

目的总结216例风湿性心脏病的外科治疗经验。方法手术在全麻体外循环中度低温下进行,其中行二尖瓣置换术（MVR）130例,主动脉瓣置换术（AVR）28例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣置换术（BVR）58例,三尖瓣成形术71例,左心耳结扎术24例,左房折叠术10例,左房血栓清除术25例。结果209例（96．8％）恢复出院,早期死亡7例（3．2％）,死囚分别为低心排综合征2例、左室后壁及主动脉后壁破裂出血各1例、多脏器功能衰竭1例、恶性心律失常1例、脑栓塞1例。结论瓣膜置换术是治疗风湿性心脏瓣膜病的有效手段。充分的术前准备、加强心肌保护、提高和改进手术技术、术后有效的监护治疗,可显著提高手术疗效,减少术后并发症,降低死亡率,取得满意的临床效果。     

Hemolysis in patients with the cloth-covered aortic valve prosthesis. Changing severity of hemolysis and prediction of anemia

This paper is addressed to two questions: (1) Is there evidence for Increasing hemolysis in patients with a cloth-covered aortic valve prosthesis? (2) Is it possible to predict from the hematocrit, retriculocyte count, serum hemoglobin and serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels which patients are at risk of anemia? These screening studies were performed in patients attending the postoperative clinic from 1970 to 1973. Patients were classified into anemic and nonanemic groups. LDH values for the anemic group include all yearly values for that patient including preanemia levels. The median LDH levels showed a yearly increase in the anemic group and no change in the nonanemic group (P < 0.005). A subset of these patients had a mean 1 year increase of 3 LDH units for 15 nonanemic patients and 242 units in 17 anemic patients. The reticulocyte levels did not demonstrate any progressive increase in the anemic group. The LDH level was the most useful predictor of future anemia. A value of 250 units predicted anemia on the next yearly visit with 28 percent false positive and 4 percent false negative readings. The reticulocyte count of more than 2.5 percent also placed the patient at greater risk of anemia. A serum hemoglobin level in excess of $\text{40}\text{mg}\text{100}\text{ml}$ was common in the anemic patients and was present in only 3 of 17 nonanemic patients. It is suggested that the serum LDH level should be monitored in all patients with the aortic totally cloth-covered prosthesis. Values in excess of 250 units (four times the upper limit of normal by other LDH methods) or increasing levels, or both, suggest future anemia.     

Dysfunction of mechanical heart valve prosthesis: experience with surgical management in 48 patients

Background

Dysfunction of mechanical heart valve prostheses is an unusual but potentially lethal complication after mechanical prosthetic valve replacement. We seek to report our experience with mechanical valve dysfunction regarding etiology, surgical techniques and early outcomes.

Methods

Clinical data of 48 patients with mechanical valve dysfunction surgically treated between October 1996 and June 2011 were analyzed.

Results

Mean age was 43.7±10.9 years and 34 were female (70.8%). The median interval from primary valve implantation to dysfunction was 44.5 months (range, 1 hour to 20 years). There were 21 emergent and 27 elective reoperations. The etiology was thrombosis in 19 cases (39.6%), pannus in 12 (25%), thrombosis and pannus in 11 (22.9%), improper disc orientation in 2 (4.1%), missing leaflet in 1 (2.1%), excessively long knot end in 1 (2.1%), endogenous factor in 1 (2.1%) and unidentified in 1 (2.1%). Surgical procedure was mechanical valve replacement in 37 cases (77.1%), bioprosthetic valve replacement in 7 (14.9%), disc rotation in 2 (4.2%) and excision of excessive knot end in 1 (2.1%). Early deaths occurred in 7 patients (14.6%), due to low cardiac output in 3 (6.3%), multi-organ failure in 2 (4.2%) and refractory ventricular fibrillation in 2 (4.2%). Complications occurred in 10 patients (20.8%).

Conclusions

Surgical management of mechanical valve dysfunction is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Earlier identification and prompt reoperation are vital to achieving better clinical outcomes. The high incidence of thrombosis in this series highlights the need for adequate anticoagulation and regular follow-up after mechanical valve replacement.     

Forty-year survival with the Starr-Edwards heart valve prosthesis

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to update an analysis of the long-term survival of heart valve replacement using the Starr-Edwards prosthesis. METHODS: Cases of isolated aortic (AVR, n = 2,247) and mitral (MVR, n = 1,406) valve replacement with Starr-Edwards prostheses implanted between 1960 and 1997, with follow up to 2003, were reviewed. Introduced in 1965, the Models A1200/1260, M6120 are still in use (Current), while other models have been discontinued (Discontinued). For AVR, 938 valves were Discontinued, with a total follow up of 8,506 patient-years (pt-yr) and a maximum of 41 years; by comparison, 1,309 valves were Current, with a total follow up of 11,586 pt-yr and a maximum of 36.1 MVR, were Discontinued, with a total follow up of 6,454 pt-yr and maximum of 37.2 years; and 771 valves were Current, with a total follow up of 6,211 pt-yr and maximum of 37.0 years. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival at 10 years was 53% for AVR and 51% for MVR; KM survival at 20 years was 23% for both AVR and MVR; KM survival at 30 years was 8% for both AVR and MVR; KM survival at 40 years was 4% for AVR. The standard error for all KM percentages was 1%. Four patients are currently alive with their original valves, more than 40 years after implantation. CONCLUSION: This series of patients, who underwent valve replacement with the Starr-Edwards valve, now have a follow up extending beyond 40 years, thereby confirming the excellent durability of this valve.