title: Paravalvular leakage causing hemolytic anemia at 8-9 years after mitral valve replacement.
abstract: We report two similar cases of women, aged 52 and 71 years, who developed shortness of breath or easy fatigability at 8-9 years after mitral valve replacement of the mitral valve in each patient, the echocardiographic study revealed paravalvular leakage. Previous examination before the appearance of symptoms had revealed a well-functioned prosthetic valve, and no hematological abnormality had been detected. The hemoglobin levels at admission were 6.4 and 6.6 g/dl, and their serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were 5218 and 4608 mU/ml. Each successfully underwent another valve replacement, and after surgery, the hemolytic anemia and the symptoms disappeared.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Jichi Medical School, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Minami-Kawachi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Katsuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation