Sildenafil Reduces the Risk of Thromboembolic Events in HeartMate II Patients with Low-Level Hemolysis and Significantly Improves the Pulmonary Circulation.

Sildenafil Reduces the Risk of Thromboembolic Events in HeartMate II Patients with Low-Level Hemolysis and Significantly Improves the Pulmonary Circulation. Int Heart J. 2018 Oct 10;: Authors: Zayat R, Ahmad U, Stoppe C, Khattab MA, Arab F, Moza A, Tewarie L, Goetzenich A, Autschbach R, Schnoering H Abstract Low-level hemolysis (LLH) after left ventricular assist device implantation contributes to thromboembolic events (TE). Free plasma hemoglobin (fHb) scavenges nitric oxide (NO), which causes endothelial dysfunction and activates platelets. fHb also interacts with von Willebrand factor (vWF). We hypothesized that improved hemodynamic and enhanced NO signaling in HeartMate II (HMII) patients with LLH taking the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil may reduce the risk of TE.From 2011 to 2015, 83 patients underwent HMII implantation. Patients with LLH as defined by elevated lactate dehydrogenase (400 < LDH ≤ 700 U/L) at hospital discharge were identified. Patients were categorized into 4 groups: 1) LLH + sildenafil, 2) LLH no sildenafil, 3) no LLH + sildenafil, and 4) no LLH no sildenafil. Adverse event-free survival was compared between the groups.Thirty-four patients (40.9%) were discharged with LLH and 22 (64.7%) of them took sildenafil. LDH and fHb remained significantly elevated in both LLH groups compared to the no LLH patients (P < 0.0001). Overall incidence of pump thrombosis (PT) was 4.8% and of ischemic stroke (I...
Source: International Heart Journal - Category: Cardiology Tags: Int Heart J Source Type: research