Platelet dysfunction and acquired von Willebrand syndrome in patients with left ventricular assist devices

Unexplained bleeding events are a severe complication in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Platelet dysfunction and acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) may contribute to bleeding tendencies. Yet, comprehensive data with respect to platelet function and AVWS in LVAD patients in terms of bleeding events are scarce.

Thirty-nine HeartMate II patients were included in this study. Data of at least two time points were available for each patient. Platelet function was analysed via light transmission aggregometry in 19 patients without LVAD, 28 in early (≤14 days) and 30 in late postimplantation states (≥30 days). Von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen, VWF collagen binding capacity and VWF multimeric analyses were performed in 26 patients without LVAD, 39 in early and 33 in late postimplantation states to diagnose AVWS. Bleeding complications were recorded for 39 patients in the early and 33 in the late postoperative period.

Platelet dysfunction was detectable in 18 of 19 without LVAD and in all patients following LVAD implantation. Platelet aggregation values did not change over time (without-early, P = 0.27, n = 14; early-late, P = 0.17, n = 21). AVWS was not diagnosed in patients without LVAD, except for one. On LVAD, 33 of 39 patients had AVWS in the early and all in the late period (n = 33). Bleeding events occurred in 44% of patients in the early and in 64% of patients in the late period.

According to our data, platelet aggregation is often impaired in LVAD patients even without an implanted LVAD. Additionally, appearance of AVWS seems to be closely linked to LVAD implantation.