Examination of Hemolytic Potential with the On-XR Prosthetic Heart Valve Dietrich Birnbaum MD, Axel Laczkovics MD, Martin Heidt MD, Hellmut Oelert MD,Günther Laufer MD, Hans Greve MD, Jose L. Pomar MD, Friedrich Mohr MD,Axel Haverich MD, Dieter Regensburger MD Mechanical valves are known to produce chronic, subclinical hemolysis in most patients. The On-XR prosthetic heart valve was studied for hemolysis using standard blood parameters in isolated aortic and mitral replacement in a 10-center trial. A central clinical laboratory was used to ensure poolability of data. Results showed a decrease in serum haptoglobin and an increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (as is typical with mechanical prostheses). The increase was greater in mitral valve patients than aortic valve patients, but still within the normal range in most cases. Levels of blood damage for the On-X valve were lower than those reported for other mechanical valves, and hemolytic anemia did not occur with this valve.

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