Disease stages in patients with valvular heart disease should be classified (Stages A, B, C, and D) on the basis of symptoms, valve anatomy, the severity of valve dysfunction, and the response of the ventricle and pulmonary circulation. 2. In the evaluation of a patient with valvular heart...
Figure 1. Pathophysiology of Hemolytic Anemia in Heart Valve Disease Mechanical intravascular hemolysis (MIH) causes the fragmentation of red blood cells (RBCs) in schistocytes and the release of free hemoglobin (Hb). The schistocytes and the haptoglobin−hemoglobin complex are cleared by the ...