Hemolytic Anemia of Mechanical Origin with Aortic-Valve Prosthesis

Abstract

HEMOLYTIC anemia that followed the use of prosthetic materials in dogs was reported by Stohlman and his associates,¹ who described the development of anemia accompanied by hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria, hemosiderinuria and a markedly shortened red-cell life-span after the insertion of a lucite ball valve between the apex of the left ventricle and the thoracic aorta. They concluded that the hemolytic process resulted from mechanical trauma to red cells by the impact of the rigid ball against the rigid housing, and they found a substantial decrease in red-cell destruction when an elastic silicone valve with a more resilient housing was employed. Earlier, . . .