PathFinder
Well-known member
What does mean, that the mechanical valves can damage the blood by closing it's lieflets? Does it happen always, or it depends on the individual qualities of the blood?
Best wishes!
Ivo
Best wishes!
Ivo
Blood damaging or not
- Thread starter PathFinder
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K
Karlynn
I think what you are referring to is "lycing" (hope that's spelled correctly.) This is where the leaflets on a mechanical valve chop up or crush the blood cells and the person can become anemic. This is more true of older valves. The ones installed these days don't have as much of an issue with lycing, but still may have a little.
My valve is 15 years old. I periodically get anemic. But I did prior to my VR, so I can't say for certain that it's my St. Jude that is the cause.
It is not a huge issue for mechanical valves, but nice to be aware of.
My valve is 15 years old. I periodically get anemic. But I did prior to my VR, so I can't say for certain that it's my St. Jude that is the cause.
It is not a huge issue for mechanical valves, but nice to be aware of.
Nancy
Well-known member
It's also called hemolysis and hemolytic anemia. Not everyone has the problem. I know that my husband did. He had a very old valve which was the main culprit, plus a newer St. Jude. The two combined caused more than the usual hemolysis.
I believe newer valves have tried to address that issue and improve on the hemodynamics.
I believe newer valves have tried to address that issue and improve on the hemodynamics.
PathFinder
Well-known member
data
data
Does anybody have any data and info about it? Is it very important problem of the mechanicals and is it dangerous?
data
Does anybody have any data and info about it? Is it very important problem of the mechanicals and is it dangerous?
briansmom
Well-known member
It is not very dangerous. If you get anemic, you increase your iron. You can eat more iron rich foods or take supplements to help. Anemia just makes you a little more tired. My son has been anemic for over a year now (bleeding ulcer and now hemolysis due to his heart pump, and puberty). He has grown 3 inches in the past 9 months.
If you get a newer valve with better hemodynamics, it would be less of an issue.
One of the third generation valves like St. Jude Regeant or On-X.
I remember reading a post by a member who had an On-X valve.
His doctor was very surprised (and pleased) how little hemolysis he had with the On-X valve.
EJ
One of the third generation valves like St. Jude Regeant or On-X.
I remember reading a post by a member who had an On-X valve.
His doctor was very surprised (and pleased) how little hemolysis he had with the On-X valve.
EJ
PathFinder
Well-known member
poll
poll
Here we have a little study of it
Please, vote in the poll about. Remember that there is a dependence on mechanical and biological valves.
poll
Here we have a little study of it
Please, vote in the poll about. Remember that there is a dependence on mechanical and biological valves.
K
Karlynn
Ivo, I noticed you added a poll to this thread. Can I ask what you have heard, or read that has made this a concern for you? Do you have other blood issues that you have to deal with already that make you concerned for the possibility? If not, please understand that this is an issue that is most often not a concern. It's a problem that some older valves have and very very few newer valves have. As I said, I've been anemic twice in 15 years. And even then it's not really certain if it's just me, or because of my valve.
MarkU
Well-known member
Not been a problem for me in the six years I've had my St. Jude aortic.
Mark
Mark
sue943
Well-known member
I had never heard of it, no one is monitoring me for anaemia.
S
Sandy SHields
Hi i have had my bjork shiley mitral valve now for 25 years. I have never had a problem with ever being anemic. I sure would be interested in finding out about the issue. I didn't realize that the leaf-lets caused any problem with chopping up the blood cells. Please keep me in formed.
I have never had a problem with ever being anemic. I sure would be interested in finding out about the issue. I didn't realize that the leaf-lets caused any problem with chopping up the blood cells. Please keep me in formed. I have had Starr-Edwards (ball in cage) aortic for 40 years. Have never had any blood disorder, nor have I had any discussion with docs concerning possible anemic problems
Hemolysis is not even strictly limited to mechanical valves. Although uncommon, it can happen with a tissue valve, or even a repaired natural valve. There are prior posts about that.
A certain amount of hemolysis is to be expected with a carbon (mechanical) valve. However it's rarely even close to being of any clinical significance. A current generation valve, such as the On-X, ATS, or Sorin (Sorin is not available in the U.S.) reduces the incidence even more. They have special pivot points and "soft" closures that reduce the pinching of blood cells as they pass through. The St. Jude carbon valves (including the Regent) and the Carbomedics valves do not make specific claims for low hemolysis.
However, St. Jude has had the lion's share of valve replacements for years, and there are very few people having problems with hemolytic anemia on the site, so I'd be reluctant to say the St. Jude valves are not good that way. I'd be more likely to say that anything that has a better hemolysis rate than the SJM is a really great valve for low hemolysis.
Having multiple carbon valves does raise the stakes for hemolysis, but it's still a small subset who develop it to a degree that is concerning.
Best wishes,
A certain amount of hemolysis is to be expected with a carbon (mechanical) valve. However it's rarely even close to being of any clinical significance. A current generation valve, such as the On-X, ATS, or Sorin (Sorin is not available in the U.S.) reduces the incidence even more. They have special pivot points and "soft" closures that reduce the pinching of blood cells as they pass through. The St. Jude carbon valves (including the Regent) and the Carbomedics valves do not make specific claims for low hemolysis.
However, St. Jude has had the lion's share of valve replacements for years, and there are very few people having problems with hemolytic anemia on the site, so I'd be reluctant to say the St. Jude valves are not good that way. I'd be more likely to say that anything that has a better hemolysis rate than the SJM is a really great valve for low hemolysis.
Having multiple carbon valves does raise the stakes for hemolysis, but it's still a small subset who develop it to a degree that is concerning.
Best wishes,
