Lactatdehydrogenase (LDH) prior and post implantation of ATS® heart valves

Establishing guidelines towards an assessment of prostheses dysfunction using LDH as a marker is difficult as shown by Suedkamp et al [M. Suedkamp, A.J. Lercher, F. Mueller-Riemenschneider, K. LaRosee, P. Tossios, U. Mehlhorn, Hemolysis parameters of St Jude Medical hemodynamic valves in aortic position, Int. J. Cardiol (95) (2004) 89–93]. In response to their work we would like to add our data concerning ATS valves (AP) and say a word of caution in interpreting an increase of LDH values.