Heart valve replacement : Hello everyone, this... - Vasculitis UK

Vasculitis UK

7,857 members6,880 posts

Heart valve replacement

luggsey profile image
5 Replies

Hello everyone, this might seem a bit random but I don't know where else to ask! M mums vasculitis caused kidney damage, he consultant said her readings were now 44 from 30 something, this is three years after her vasculitis.

She now has a calcified heart valve and they told her to have a x-ray using special dye, this we are told can cause kidney failure in people with damaged kidneys!

What to do?

Anybody have experience of this???

Thanks.

Paul.

Written by
luggsey profile image
luggsey
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
5 Replies

Hi Paul,

It's well known that X Ray dye can cause problems with the kidneys, but not for everyone.

Have you spoken to your mum's renal Dr about this? They are better placed to work out if the benefits of the procedure outweigh the risks. Sometimes they admit patients at risk and give them IV fluids after the scan to " flush " the dye out.

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro

Yes - Keyes is right, this is something to discuss with the renal specialist as he is best able to make that assessment.

Is the figure the doctor gave you the glomerular filtration rate? That is a measure of the amount of blood that can be cleared of protein via the kidneys - normal in younger people is about 90 but it does fall naturally as you get older as well as with damage due to disease.

The risk you are talking about is:

"Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is currently a recognized, but rare, complication of MRI believed to be caused by the injection of high doses of gadolinium-based contrast material in patients with very poor kidney function. Careful assessment of kidney function before considering a contrast injection minimizes the risk of this very rare complication."

You mum doesn't have "very poor" kidney function - but the person to talk to it about, as we've said, is the renal specialist. It is all a balance of the risks involved - and only the experts can express an opinion there. In fact - realy the renal specialist and the cardiologist need to talk to one another!

luggsey profile image
luggsey in reply toPMRpro

Thanks both, I couldn't get to see mums consultant this time, only just got in from work today, 15 hours!!

Mum is extremely worried that this test could end up with her in renal failure, it dosen't sound as if it's as risky as we thought.

I'll Google it some more over the weekend.

Cheers.

Paul.

in reply toluggsey

Found these guidelines for CT contrast and renal failure. They explain the problem and solution fairly well.

radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-...

luggsey profile image
luggsey

I like to update my posts when I can, so here is the results of my Mum's operation.

The scans were very upsetting for my Mum, in short they terrified her and left her in a state of fear for weeks....

The contrast dye was used several times in the week she was admitted, and her kidney function dropped and bounced back, we requested she be on a drip despite having reasonably OK kidney function, a good precaution we thought.

Heart operation went well, after the op she unfortunately had a recurrence of her previous stroke, no clot or bleed but same symptoms, there is a technical name but I forget now. Her recovery will be longer as it's the same as having a stroke again.

After the stroke and emergency ct scan a cancer scare has to be addressed, and the that's first appointment tomorrow.

No ANCA results above normal thankfully.

It never ends, my poor mum is an emotional wreck.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

My 10 year old and cerebral vasculitis

Hi I'm new to this site wondered if anyone could help me. My daughter had a stroke last year she...
Shelley46 profile image

Hubby update. Referral

Thanks to queueing at 8.30 am on the doorstep this morning hubby got appointment with GP. He told...
Footygirl profile image

Left sided heart failure and Vasculitis. Anyone else been diagnosed with this ?

I was diagnosed with WG over 17 years ago with Saddle nose deformity and I have chronic kidney...
Essex-jill profile image

Vasculitis and Total Hip Replacement

Just wondering if anyone knows of any complications (other than the usual) that having Vasculitis...
Nova7961 profile image

Has anyone with GPA - vasculitis gotten their kidneys back?

Has anyone with GPA - vasculitis gotten their kidneys back? I was diagnosed on March 18, 2017 and...
cpierce1016 profile image

Moderation team

See all
zoe69 profile image
zoe69Administrator
Suzi70 profile image
Suzi70Administrator
JaneLE profile image
JaneLEAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.