Calcification and Oxidative Modifications Are Associated With Progressive Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Dysfunction [Valvular Heart Disease]

BackgroundBioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs), fabricated from glutaraldehyde‐pretreated bovine pericardium or porcine aortic valves, are widely used for the surgical or interventional treatment of heart valve disease. Reoperation becomes increasingly necessary over time because of BHV dysfunction.Methods and ResultsForty‐seven explanted BHV aortic valve replacements were retrieved at reoperation for clinically severe BHV dysfunction over the period 2010–2016. Clinical explant analyses of BHV leaflets for calcium (atomic absorption spectroscopy) and oxidized amino acids, per mass spectroscopy, were primary end points. Comorbidities for earlier BHV explant included diabetes mellitus and coronary artery bypass grafting. Mean calcium levels in BHV leaflets were significantly increased compared with unimplanted BHV (P

Source: JAHA:Journal of the American Heart Association - May 8, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Lee, S., Levy, R. J., Christian, A. J., Hazen, S. L., Frick, N. E., Lai, E. K., Grau, J. B., Bavaria, J. E., Ferrari, G. Tags: Valvular Heart Disease, Aortic Valve Replacement/Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation, Cardiovascular Surgery Original Research Source Type: research