Misawa Yoshio, Konishi Hiroaki, Saito Tsutomu, Fuse Katsuo
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Jichi Medical School, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Minami-Kawachi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2002 Dec;50(12):530-2. doi: 10.1007/BF02913169.
We report two similar cases of women, aged 52 and 71 years, who developed shortness of breath or easy fatigability at 8-9 years after mitral valve replacement of the mitral valve in each patient, the echocardiographic study revealed paravalvular leakage. Previous examination before the appearance of symptoms had revealed a well-functioned prosthetic valve, and no hematological abnormality had been detected. The hemoglobin levels at admission were 6.4 and 6.6 g/dl, and their serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were 5218 and 4608 mU/ml. Each successfully underwent another valve replacement, and after surgery, the hemolytic anemia and the symptoms disappeared.
