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. · Jul 2016
Evaluation of von Willebrand factor with a fully magnetically levitated centrifugal continuous-flow left ventricular assist device in advanced heart failure.
Contemporary continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) are associated with degradation of von Willebrand factor (vWF) high-molecular-weight multimers (HMWMs), a critical factor supporting platelet function. We hypothesized that the HeartMate 3 fully magnetically levitated LVAD, designed to reduce circulatory shear stress, favorably influences these hemostatic parameters. ⋯ The HeartMate 3 LVAD is associated with enhanced hemocompatibility compared with the HeartMate II LVAD, as demonstrated by the improved preservation of vWF HMWMs, In contrast, effects on HMWM degradation appeared to be dissociated from functional attributes. Further confirmation of these findings in randomized clinical trials is warranted.