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Effect of a combined anti-thrombotic therapy of thrombosis on prosthetic heart valves.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the curative effects and risks of a medical therapy with combined anti-thrombotic agents for thrombosis on prosthetic heart valves.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients who suffered from thrombosis on prosthetic valves with stable hemodynamics were divided into the inpatient group and the outpatient group. Thrombosis on the valves were demonstrated by transesophageal echocardiographies (TEE). A combined anti-thrombotic therapy with clopidogrel and warfarin were prescribed for all the patients during the whole treatment. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was given twice daily during the first 5 days for the inpatients. The patients accepted regular follow-ups for observation of the functions of prosthetic valves, changes of thrombi, coagulation status and general clinical status.


RESULTS
There were 5 men and 17 women. Thirteen patients suffered from thrombosis on the mechanical mitral valves (MVs), five on the mechanical tricuspid valves (TVs), one on the mechanical aortic valve and tricuspid bio-prosthetic valve, one on the mechanical aortic valve, one on the mitral bio-prosthetic valve, and one on the tricuspid bio-prosthetic valve. After an average of 36.4±23.1 days' observation, 16 (73%) patients' valvular function recovered normal without TTE detectable thrombi, 6 (27%) patients' valvular function remained abnormal including three patients without TTE detectable thrombi during follow-ups. No significant differences of thrombi changes and period of thrombi disappearance were observed between the inpatient group and the outpatient group. For patients with mitral thrombosis, sizes of the left atriums (LAs) decreased an average of 4.1 mm after treatment (95% CI, 1.2-6.9 mm). No significant changes of other chambers and left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) were observed. For patients with tricuspid thrombosis, LVEF improved an average of 10.5% after treatment (95% CI, 0.1-17.9%). No significant changes of chambers were observed. None experienced major bleedings except for two cases of mild subcutaneous ecchymoses.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined anti-thrombotic therapy based on clopidogrel and warfarin is a feasible treatment for thrombosis on prosthetic heart valves under a close monitoring.