title: Clotting properties in diverse valve prostheses.
abstract: With regard to both hemolysis and thrombophilia the St. Jude Medical prosthesis shows only minor alterations in comparison to normals. The most significant alterations concerning platelets and hemolysis have been found in patients with Starr-Edwards prostheses. Even in tissue valves, major alterations of the clotting system and chronic intravascular hemolysis were found. For long-term anticoagulation in mechanical prostheses--even with sinus rhythm--vitamin K antagonists should be preferred. During the first months of gravidity only heparin can be recommended. In St. Jude Medical valves anticoagulation with dicumarolum must be recommended; whether antiaggregation drugs can be recommended is not yet proved. Anticoagulation may be discontinued three months after tissue valve implantation if there are no additional risk factors. Diminishing platelet adhesivity in tissue valves may support these conclusions.
mesh_terms: D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013916:Thrombelastography; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid