A new study found that patients with aortic heart valve implants may raise their risks of stroke due to the possible development of blood clots, resulting in the impaired opening and closing of the valves.
Heart valves made from animal tissues have increased its popularity over time, as these do not require patients to take blood thinners in the long term, unlike those who received mechanical synthetic valves.
The study, led by Dr. Raj Makkar from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, was performed by conducting experiments in individuals enrolled in the three trial registries namely RESOLVE, and SAVORY, including PORTICO IDE, which is funded by St. Jude Medical.
The 1,206 patients from the PORTICO IDE trial were all subjected to a Computed Tomography (CT) scan, 30 days after transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR). The two other groups also underwent CT scan, but at different intervals after the surgery.
All participants also underwent a transthoracic echocardiography as baseline and together with the CT scan. The different cardiovascular parameters of the patients were determined based on the guidelines set by the American Society of Echocardiography.
The findings of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Monday, Oct. 5, showed that 22 out of 55 or 40 percent of the participants developed reduced aortic-valve leaflet movement. Aside from that, 17 out of 132 or 13 percent of patients in two registries monitoring tissue valve recipients, also exhibited the same problem.
The researchers also found that 187 of patients developed a stroke or mild stroke, which is said to be more rampant among those who have heart valve movement problems. However, the yielded numbers were significantly too small that experts do not want to confirm a definite conclusion out of the data.
Some of the patients were then taking blood thinners. These patients appeared to be safe from the heart valve problem.
Dr. David R. Holmes Jr. from the Mayo Clinic, commented on the study and said that the results highlight essential queries such as the duration of the risk, the rationale of the heart valve problem and whether it is more common on tube or open-heart valve placements.
Makkar encouraged patients who have just received a heart valve replacement to talk to their doctors to see if imaging studies to detect such problem may be possible. "These devices are life-saving," Makkar said. He added that the worst event that could happen is people getting inaccurate information and developing fear to have their valve fixed.
Photo: Patrick J. Lynch
