Red cell survival after homograft replacement of the aortic valve

Abstract

Red cell survival was studied in 21 patients following homograft replacement of the aortic valve. Autologous cells labelled with t1Cr were used. The T+ TtCr varied between 24 and 34 days, with only one patient below the normal limit of normal variations. The absence of haemolysis was confirmed by other haematological studies, including estimation of reticulocytes, serum lactic dehydrogenase, and urinary haemosiderin. Haptoglobin levels were low in most of the patients studied. In contrast to prosthetic valves there was no haemolysis in patients with regurgitation around or through the homograft valve. Intravascular haemolysis has been described after aortic valve replacement using a mechanical prosthesis. This applies to ball valves (Marsh, 1964;