Associations of biomarkers with hypoattenuated leaflet thickening after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Summary: When people get a new heart valve without open-heart surgery (a procedure called TAVR), sometimes the flaps of the new valve get thick and don't move well. This is often caused by tiny blood clots. Doctors wanted to know if a simple blood test right after the procedure could predict who would have this problem months later. They tested the blood of over 100 patients to see how fast it clotted. They found a hint that blood clotting too fast might be linked to the valve problem, but they need to do larger studies to be sure.