title: Late thrombotic obstruction of an aortic bioprosthetic valve: successful treatment by oral anticoagulation.
abstract: Thrombotic obstruction of aortic bioprostheses is rare. Few cases have been reported involving the use of the Carpentier-Edwards (CE) prosthesis, the Hancock bioprosthesis, or the Medtronic Intact porcine valve. Thrombolytic therapy for mechanical valve thrombosis has been used frequently even though it is known to carry a high risk of embolism and recurrence. However, the use of this therapy was reported for the first time only recently, in a case of acute aortic thrombosis which occurred 3 1/2 months after bioprosthesis insertion. We report a case of late progressive thrombotic obstruction of a CE aortic valve 3 years after insertion. The case was successfully treated with coumadin therapy, as confirmed by serial Doppler echocardiographic examinations and a 3-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Service de Cardiologie (Pr. Gourgon), Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Juliard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paillole
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahan
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Steg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Himbert
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aumont
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin