BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY A study was conducted to measure in vitro the procoagulant properties of platelets induced by flow through mechanical heart valves. METHODS The procoagulant activity of platelets was measured using a real-time assay of platelet activation state (PAS), which was based on a modification of the prothrombinase method. Acetylated prothrombin was used instead of norm...

The management of pregnant women with mechanical heart valves is challenging. Recently, based on small numbers of patients and poor-quality data, correspondence from Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc has described treatment "failures" and concerns about teratogenicity with the use of the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) enoxaparin. The company issued a "Warning" that enoxaparin should not be used ...

T he management of pregnant women with mechanical heart valves is challenging. Recently, based on small numbers of patients and poor-quality data, correspondence from Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc has described treatment “failures” and concerns about teratogenicity with the use of the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) enoxaparin. The company issued a “Warning” that enoxaparin should not be used...

Approximately 275 000 patients receive a heart valve replacement annually. Their choices and the choices of their surgeons are limited to either a metal valve replacement or a preserved (typically allogeneic or xenogeneic) tissue valve replacement. These patients are then subject to the morbidity associated with anticoagulation when mechanical valves are used or the limited durability of a biol...