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Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock
06:10

Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock

Published on: June 12, 2021

Left ventricular assist device-induced coagulation and platelet activation and effect of the current anticoagulant

Michael Ashbrook1, Jeanine M Walenga, Jeffrey Schwartz

  • 1Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis : Official Journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis
|November 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) suppress platelet and coagulation activation. Pharmacotherapy in LVAD patients yields a profile similar to warfarin therapy alone.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are crucial for managing advanced heart failure.
  • Understanding the impact of LVADs on hemostasis is vital for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate platelet and coagulation activation in LVAD patients on warfarin and aspirin.
  • To compare hemostatic profiles of LVAD patients with healthy controls and warfarin-only patients.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed platelet aggregation (collagen, arachidonate, ADP) in 7 LVAD patients.
  • Utilized thrombelastography to analyze clot initiation and formation.
  • Measured von Willebrand Factor (vWF) antigen and propeptide levels.

Main Results:

  • LVAD patients showed significantly inhibited platelet aggregation compared to controls.
  • Thrombelastography revealed longer clot initiation times and stronger clot formation in LVAD patients.
  • Increased vWF degradation was observed in LVAD patients, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacotherapy in LVAD patients suppresses LVAD-induced coagulation and platelet activation.
  • The hemostatic profile in LVAD patients on antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy resembles that of patients on warfarin alone.

Keywords:
coagulationheart failureplateletsventricular assist device

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