Health Library

Prosthetic Heart Valve Thrombosis

(Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis; PVT)

Definition

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis is a rare but serious complication of a heart valve replacement procedure. The complication occurs when a blood clot called a thrombus is attached to or near a prosthetic heart valve. This can obstruct blood flow or interfere with the function of the valve. This condition can be life-threatening. Seek medical attention right away if you think you have prosthetic heart valve thrombosis.

Heart Valves With Prosthetic Replacements

Causes

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis is thought to result from an interaction between components of blood and the prosthesis or blood flow in and around the prosthesis.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your chance of developing prosthetic heart valve thrombosis include:

Inadequate anticoagulant/blood thinning therapy after a valve transplant

Prosthesis located at the mitral valve in the heart

Atrial fibrillation
Drugs such as contraceptives
Cancerous tumors
Systemic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or inflammation and damage to various body tissues, including joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain
Reduced cardiac pumping—possibly from heart failure

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing while lying down
Swelling
Fatigue
Difficulty exercising
Chest pain, burning, or pressure
Nausea
Numbness
Loss of consciousness

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam may be done.

Images may need to be taken of your heart. This can be done with:

Echocardiogram
Fluoroscopy

Your bodily fluid may need to be tested. This can be done with blood tests.

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

The first line of therapy is usually thrombolysis, which uses medications to break up abnormal blood clots.

Anticoagulant medications are used to control clotting. Anticoagulation therapy may be used alone in people with small clots that are not obstructing the heart valve.

In some cases, surgery to replace the valve may be necessary.

Prevention

In people who have prosthetic heart valves, antithrombotic therapy is the best proven way to reduce the risk of prosthetic heart valve thrombosis.

American Heart Association

http://www.heart.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Canadian Heart Research Centre

http://www.chrc.net

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

http://www.heartandstroke.ca

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated January 8, 2013. Accessed May 9, 2013.

Serpi M, Schmidt KG, Kreuz W, et al. Thrombolysis of prosthetic heart valve thrombosis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in infancy and childhood. Z Kardiol. 2001;90(3):191-196.

Roudant R, Serri K, Lafitte S. Thrombosis of prosthetic heart valves: diagnosis and therapeutic considerations. Heart. 2007;93:137-142.

Last reviewed May 2013 by Michael J. Fucci, DO; Michael Woods, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.