Why the study?
Use of ventricular assist devices has increased, but high shear stress induced by the device causes flow disturbances associated with loss of high molecular weight multimers of VWF and bleeding complications.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
This review highlights that continuous-flow ventricular assist devices universally cause acquired von Willebrand syndrome via shear stress-induced loss of high molecular weight multimers, significantly increasing the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
During the last decade the use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) for patients with severe heart failure has increased tremendously. However, flow disturbances, mainly high shear induced by the device is associated with bleeding complications. Shear stress-induced changes in VWF conformation are associated with a loss of high molecular weight multimers (HMW) of VWF and an increased risk of bleeding. This phenomenon and its cause will be elaborated and reviewed in the following.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Rauch et al. (2019) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: