Background: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) referred for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are commonly elderly and considered high risk. These patients often have multiple comorbidities and therefore frequently have anemia. Also, severe AS may be associated with intestinal angio-dysplasiae and bleeding. We studied the effect of TAVR on hemoglobin level and indexes.
Methods: Clinical, demographic and procedural data was documented in our prospective institutional TAVR registry. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were studied at baseline and 6-months following the procedure.
Results: 98 patients were included in the present analysis. Mean age was 80±7 years and 45% were female. The mean hemoglobin level (gr/dL) was 11.8±1.7 and 12.0±1.8 at baseline and at 6 months (p=0.18). HCT 37.2±7.7 and 37.7±5.5 (p=0.564) and MCV 88±6 and 89.5±5 ( p=0.04) at baseline and at 6 moths respectively. In the subgroup of patients with anemia at baseline (defined as Hb≤13 in males and ≤12 in females) Hb increased from 10.9±1.2 at baseline to 11.6±1.6 after 6 months (p=0.004), while HCT increased form 34.9±8 to 36±4.5 (p=0.327) and MCV increased from 87.6±6 to 89.5±5 (p=0.005).
Conclusions: TAVR resulted in a non-significant increase in hemoglobin after 6 months in the entire cohort. In the subgroup with anemia at baseline hemoglobin level increased significantly.