Decreased aortic valve prosthesis-associated haemolysis after changing from haemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis

We report here a chronic haemodialysis patient who had severe anaemia following replacement of his aortic valve. The investigations confirmed a traumatic valve effect. The surgeons were reluctant to replace the valve because of the high cardiothoracic risk and absence of significant leak or stenosis. Furthermore, the patient refused to consider additional surgery. We changed his modality of dialysis to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; subsequently, there was a dramatic decrease in his transfusion requirement, and the patient was symptomatically and functionally better. A literature search indicates that this therapeutic response has not been reported before.