Increased Plasma Concentrations of Extracellular Vesicles Are Associated with Pro-Inflammatory and Pro-Thrombotic Characteristics of Left and Right Ventricle Mechanical Support Devices

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) allows for functional left and right heart ventricle replacement. MCS induces a systemic inflammatory reaction and prothrombotic state leading to an increased risk of thrombus formation. The extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles released from active/injured cells characterized by prothrombotic properties. Simple inflammatory parameters from whole blood count analysis have established a clinical role in everyday practice to describe immune-inflammatory activation. We hypothesized that increased plasma concentrations of EVs might be associated with the proinflammatory and pro-thrombotic characteristics of left ventricle assist device (LVAD) and right ventricle assist device (RVAD) devices. We presented a pilot study showing the concentration of peripheral blood serum, right and left ventricle mechanical assist device extracellular concentration in relation to thrombotic complication in patients treated with a biventricular pulsatile assist device (BIVAD). The observation was based on 12 replacements of pulsatile pumps during 175 days of observation. The proinflammatory characteristics of LVAD were noted. The proinflammatory and procoagulant activation by RVAD was observed. The results may provide possible explanations for the worse results of right-sided mechanical supports observed in clinical practice.