Aortic regurg and red blood cells

[Rick]

I have aortic regurgitation due a bicuspid aortic valve. Since approximately 20 years ago, my bloodwork demonstrates a high bilirubin, both types - direct and indirect. As of 3 years ago, my globulin levels are always just below normal but outside of normal and the albumin/globulin ratio is high above normal range.

I take heart meds and also understand that red blood cells are destroyed with the turbulent flow around the aortic valve. My MDs seem at a loss at explaining this.

My question(s) is:
Anyone else had this?? Did they ever establish cause? Is it related to the regurgitation, the meds, or entirely independent?

Thanks for any response.

Rick

 

[clay_from_nj]

Could be a symptom of heart failure: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1181835/

 

[Rick]

Thanks Clay. I will specifically ask about this in my MD appointment and see what he says.
Best regards,
Rick

 

[Eva]

.......... understand that red blood cells are destroyed with the turbulent flow around the aortic valve. I never heard of this! My personal understanding is that in very rare cases after the replacement of the diseased valve with a prosthetic valves, very rarely a patient may suffer from hemolytic anemia (to which some refer to as blood cells destruction)! My MDs seem at a loss at explaining this.

My question(s) is:
Anyone else had this?? Did they ever establish cause? Is it related to the regurgitation? I don't think so! I had aortic regurgitation for about 27 years before I had my surgery, during which I regularly had complete blood. None of those results demonstrated any abnormal levels of any kind!


Thanks for any response.

Rick

Rick,

See my responses above in blue.

I hope you get better answers from other members for your peace of mind!

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[epstns]

If it is related, I'll bet that it is a rare one. My bilirubin counts are routinely just above the range, and my doc's aren't worried about it - as long as it is stable. It could be that I'm just not like everyone else, or it could be (doc's best guess) that I have some latent gallbladder issues that aren't giving me any trouble now. Either way, as long as mine is stable, we just say "Yup. It is up there still.
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