Hemolysis in children with heart valve prostheses
Gómez-Noriega, M.D.; Santamaría-Díaz, H.; Gómez-Gómez, M.; Farfán-Canto, J.M.; Jiménez-Balderas, E.A.; Pérez-Treviño, C.
Boletin Medico del Hospital Infantil de Mexico 41(10): 519-524
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0539-6115 PMID: 6508891 Document Number: 222374
A randomized series of 50 children with heart prosthesis were studied for evidence of hemolysis. Valve replacement was with single heart prosthesis in 40 and double in 10. In 35, they were mechanical and in 25, of the biological type. Twenty percent of the patients had a history of hemolytic anemia, the reticulocyte count was high in 76%; serum bilirubin in 30%; serum lactic dehydrogenase in 98%, with low serical levels of haptoglobins in 86%. Subclinical hemolysis is suggested. There was no significant difference between type and site of valve replacement. Higher hemolysis was found in patients with 3 mechanical prostheses. The physiopathology, parameters used to assess hemolysis, and the reports in the literature are discussed. Hemolysis in children with heart valve prostheses was frequent, scanty and well tolerated.