This problem is usually called hemolytic anemia, but it's sometimes also termed as mechanical hemolytic anemia, hemolysis, or microangiopathic anemia. Mechanical in the name refers to the mechanical action that causes the red blood cells to be damaged, and is not a description of the valve type.
The Mosaic is a natural tissue valve. Tissue valves don't usually damage a significant number of red blood cells, but there are cases where it happens. There are even cases of repaired,
original mitral valves causing this problem. So even your own, native flesh is not entirely safe post surgery. (For the curious:
www.nv-med.com/atcs/pdf/2005_11_3/198.pdf)
Here is a typical appraisal of post-VR anemia risk:
Hemolytic anemia following insertion of Ionescu-Shiley mitral valve bioprosthesis S B Reddy, J L Pater, J Pym, and P W Armstrong http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1440344
"Hemolytic anemia is a relatively common complication after the replacement of cardiac valves with mechanical prostheses; the prevalence rate varies from 38% to 85%, depending on the prosthesis implanted. However, cardiac valves fabricated from biologic material are associated with a reduced incidence of hemolytic anemia..."
When it does happen in biological valves, frequently there are other factors involved that make the red blood cells involved more fragile. However, it isn't much comfort if they're
your red blood cells.
As things progress, the numbers for mechanical valves will go down, as the current-generation carbon valves (e.g. On-X, Sorin, ATS) have much softer, erythrocyte-sparing closures than the last generation of mechanicals.
As far as the statin claim...
There is
no evidence that statin drugs enhance the length of service for tissue valves or prevent or slow valve calcification. Certainly there is
no evidence or studies that it is related to the twenty-year successes of the bovine pericardial valves,
not even casual evidence. Nor are there
any studies relating the two that are even
five years old, much less twenty. Wishful thinking. Statin manufacturers figure if their loyal opinion leaders say it often enough, it will be accepted as truth even if no studies ever support it. Any prescription sold is a good prescription.
We just went through this debate recently in this forum, where no one could come up with a reasonable study that could show that statins did any such thing, although there are several studies that show that they do
not, including a major study completed earlier this year. Do a search on this site for that debate: your cardio's been scammed. Until then, link to this earlier post:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176366&highlight=statins#post176366
Diane Maria, at your age, the valve could last up to fifteen years, but will probably remain usable for about ten years, less if you've been pregnant or if it was from before current anticalcification treatments were being used in manufacturing the valve.
Best wishes,
