Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions
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Catheter Cardiovasc Interv · Oct 2009
Interatrial shunt closure devices in patients with nickel allergy.
We assessed outcomes in nickel allergic patients treated with percutaneous interatrial shunt device closure with the Helex device. Nickel toxicity has been well described in patients undergoing interatrial shunt closure with the Amplatzer device, which has a nitinol design. There have been no reports using Helex in nickel allergic patients. ⋯ Of those without pre-procedural known nickel allergy, 12% had palpitations, 5% had atrial fibrillation, and 13% had chest pain. When compared with a published report that 89% of nickel-allergic patients developing an allergic reaction to the Amplatzer or Premere device, Helex appeared far safer in nickel allergic patients (P < 0.001). In patients with nickel allergy, percutaneous interatrial shunt device closure with Helex device is safe, and is not associated with allergy to nickel.