ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome (AVWS) in patients undergoing continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support is due to the loss of von Willebrand factor (vWF) high molecular weight multimers (HMWMs) by shear-mediated mechanisms. We investigated whether reducing speed in vivo would mitigate the shear effect. ⋯ After 6 hours, there was no significant change in either the vWF activity:antigen ratio or the HMWMs. Decreasing pump speed does not ameliorate AVWS.