Down-Regulation Of Protein C Pathway Associated With Increased Inflammation In Patients With Implanted Ventricular Assist Devices As A Potential Cause Of Pump Thrombosis

Introduction: The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is increasingly common in patients suffering from heart failure. However, the placement of an LVAD comes with risks, including pump thrombosis that occurs in up to 20% of patients. Pump thrombosis constitutes a major cause of death in this patient population, and understanding the mechanism behind this complication will allow its prevention. The protein C pathway is critical in the maintenance of blood hemostasis, aiding in the prevention of hypercoagulability. It is hypothesized that the state of inflammation in LVAD patients dysregulates the protein C pathway, creating a hypercoagulable state with resultant thrombosis. The objective of this project was to characterize changes in the protein C pathway in patients supported by an LVAD who experienced a thrombotic event.