Prosthetic valve thrombosis despite seemingly-adequate anticoagulation: the dangers of transient lapses in anticoagulation.
We report a 19-year-old woman with thrombosis of a prosthetic mitral valve that was most likely due to a short dip in anticoagulation in the days preceding the event. Interestingly, at presentation the patient was super-therapeutic, most likely a result of hepatic congestion as the heart began to fail, creating an illusion of thrombosis despite adequate anticoagulation.
Jafary
F H
FH
Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, PO Box 3500, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. jafary@pobox.com
Hassan
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology*
D000925:Anticoagulants