Coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet drop in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) leads to transient platelet activation and hypercoagulation status, resulting in thrombocytopenia. Aims This study investigated the associations of coagulation/fibrinolysis status after transfemoral TAVI with valve type, post‐TAVI thrombocytopenia, and complication of TAVI. Methods Thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT) and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) levels were measured before and 1 h, 1 day, and 2 days after TAVI. A percentage drop in platelet count (DPC) was determined from the pre‐ and lowest post‐procedural values. Results SAPIEN 3 (S3) was implanted in 158 patients and Evolut PRO/PRO+ (Evolut) in 117. Both TAT and FDP increased after TAVI. Pre‐TAVI balloon dilatation was generally performed on patients undergoing implantation with Evolut. Peak TAT was then stratified into 4 quartiles (Q1 to Q4). Of all 275 study patients, 69 patients reached ultra‐hypercoagulation status (Q4). S3, TAVI without pre‐balloon dilatation, DPC and bleeding complications were significantly associated with the ultra‐hypercoagulation status after TAVI. TAT was significantly greater 1 h after S3 implantation than Evolut (median [IQR], 43.1 [34.1–59.6] vs. 31.0 [25.0–40.4] ng/mL; p < 0.001). In contrast, FDP levels did not differ between the two at any measurement point. The difference in DPC among the peak TAT quartiles was statistically significant ( p < 0.001). The occurrence of bleeding complications was significantly higher in the group with ultra‐hypercoagulation status (5.8% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.036). Conclusions The increase in coagulation status and post‐TAVI thrombocytopenia were significantly greater after S3 implantation. Ultra‐hypercoagulation after TAVI was related to bleeding complications.