The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · May 2013
Time course of acquired von Willebrand disease associated with two types of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: HeartMate II and CircuLite Synergy Pocket Micro-pump.
Bleeding complications are frequent adverse events in patients supported with axial continuous-flow pumps. Previous retrospective studies demonstrated that bleeding events in patients with the HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) were attributed to acquired von Willebrand syndrome. We sought to analyze the von Willebrand factor (VWF) profile in patients receiving a HeartMate II or a CircuLite (Saddle Brook, NJ,) device (Synergy Pocket Micro-pump) prospectively. ⋯ Acquired von Willebrand syndrome was confirmed to occur immediately after the implantation of both types of LVAD and persisted up to 12 months. A lower VWF:Rco/Ag ratio was associated with larger transfusion requirements. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome resolves after LVAD explantation.