Comprehensive collection of COVID-19 related prosthetic valve failure: a systematic review

• Published in: Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 474 - 489
• Main Authors: Trieu, Theresa K., Birkeland, Kade, Kimchi, Asher, Kedan, Ilan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aorta; Aortic Valve; Cardiology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; Fibrinolytic Agents; Heart Valve Diseases - complications; Heart Valve Prosthesis - adverse effects; Hematology; Humans; Infections; Inflammation; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Prostheses; Prosthetics; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Systematic review; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; Thrombosis - complications; Venous Thromboembolism - complications; COVID; Mechanical valve; Prosthetic valve thrombosis; Bioprosthetic valve; Thrombosis
• ISSN: 1573-742X; 0929-5305; 1573-742X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11239-022-02746-x

Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, correlation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and COVID-19 infection has been well established. Increased inflammatory response in the setting of COVID-19 infection is associated with VTE and hypercoagulability. Venous and arterial thrombotic events in COVID-19 infection have been well documented; however, few cases have been reported involving cardiac valve prostheses. In this review, we present a total of eight cases involving COVID-19-related prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT), as identified in a systematic review. These eight cases describe valve position (mitral versus aortic) and prosthesis type (bioprosthetic versus mechanical), and all cases demonstrate incidents of PVT associated with simultaneous or recent COVID-19 infection. None of these eight cases display obvious non-adherence to anticoagulation; five of the cases occurred greater than three years after the most recent valve replacement. Our review offers insights into PVT in COVID-19 infected patients including an indication for increased monitoring in the peri-infectious period. We explore valve thrombosis as a mechanism for prosthetic valve failure. We describe potential differences in antithrombotic strategies that may offer added antithrombotic protection during COVID-19 infection. With the growing population of valve replacement patients and recurring COVID-19 infection surges, it is imperative to explore relationships between COVID-19 and PVT.