title: [Role of thrombolytic treatment in thrombosis of valvular prostheses. Apropos of 2 cases and review of the world literature].
abstract: The authors report 2 cases of thrombolytic therapy by Urokinase at the dose of 4 500 U/kg/hour, for 24 hours, in patients with thrombosis of a Bjork aortic and Lillehei mitral valve prostheses, and assess the efficacy with a review of the world literature. The first case was a 65 year old woman who received a Bjork No 25 aortic valve prosthesis for aortic regurgitation. Two years later oral anti-vitamin K anticoagulants were replaced by an association of Aspirin-Persantine. She developed acute pulmonary oedema secondary to thrombosis of her valve during the fifth postoperative year. Treatment with Urokinase was successful (4 500 U/kg/hour for 24 hours). The second cases was a 33 year old woman who received a Lillehei No 27 mitral valve prosthesis for mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis. Six years later, during a period of apparently ineffective oral anticoagulation, she developed subacute pulmonary oedema due to thrombosis of her prosthesis. Urokinase therapy was successful after 4 hours, but the valve surface area on cardiac catheterisation was decreased and elective reoperation to change the prosthesis was decided upon. Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a serious complication with an operative mortality of 68.6% (35 deaths out of 51 reoperations in the worl literature) whilst the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy would appear to be about 80%. When thrombosis is progressive, the valve has to be changed surgically, but when it is secondary, thrombolytic therapy at least helps the patient survive the acute phase.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
vernacular_title: Place du traitement thrombolytique dans les thromboses des prothèses valvulaires. A propos de 2 cas et revue de la littérature mondiale.