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Native cardiac valves in the setting of chronic injury may become thickened and disrupted by dystrophic calcification, which impede valve structure/function, and there may be evidence of chondromatous (i.e., cartilaginous, CM) metaplasia admixed with dystrophic calcification. In order to characterize the presence of CM in native cardiac valves - with particular focus upon aortic valves - a retrospective review of the histologic features of 46 native aortic valves (identified from 1094 sequentially reviewed native valves of all types) containing CM were focused upon, as well as correlation with other histopathologic features, and clinical and echocardiographic findings. The prevalence rate of CM was low, and greatest among aortic valves, less in mitral valves, and never identified in tricuspid or pulmonic valves. CM in aortic valves was less commonly identified in patients with a history of autoimmune disease. The rate of CM increased with degree of valve thickening and/or calcification. The proportion of aortic valves with CM increased with an increasing degree of stenosis and decreasing degree of regurgitation, and aortic valves with CM were more commonly associated with a smaller aortic valve area, and greater peak and mean gradients. The rate of osseous metaplasia, arterial vessels, capillary bed formation, and chronic inflammation were greater in aortic valves with CM compared to valves without. CM within aortic valves is an infrequent albeit identifiable histopathologic alteration associated with chronic valve disease alongside changes in valve thickening and calcification., (© 2023 Scandinavian Societies for Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology.)

Studies conducted in developed nations have shown that increase in life expectancy has brought with it a rise in the incidence and treatment of degenerative aortic and mitral heart valve diseases. Current standards recommend valve replacement among even some asymptomatic patients. In this research, we examine the epidemiology of valvular heart disease and rate of valve replacement in Taiwan, where life expectancy now stands at 80.69 years. Patients were enrolled based on claims from a widely used national database and categorized into cohorts defined by type of valve disease and, further, by valve replacements and type of valve (mechanical, porcine, or bovine). Data, including disease type, age, and gender, were analyzed to determine annual and cumulative incidence rates and prosthetic usage from 2000 to 2017. Results showed that across the cohorts, the cumulative incidence rate in 2017 was 3.59%, and in the aortic valve cohort, the percentage of surgical valve replacement for those ≥60 years was 6.99%. Compared with other developed nations, this demonstrates that incidence rates are slightly higher, yet surgical replacements are less than half that of other developed nations. This under-treatment of patients with valvular heart disease presents an important public health challenge in Taiwan.

Background: Complicated infective endocarditis (IE) with perivalvular abscess and destruction of intervalvular fibrous body (IFB) has high mortality risk and requires emergent or urgent surgery mostly., Case Presentation: We presented four patients with complicated infective endocarditis combined with perivalvular abscess and IFB destruction. Three patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis and one patient had native valve endocarditis. They all received modified Commando procedure successfully. No surgical mortality or re-exploration for bleeding., Conclusions: We suggest that modified Commando procedure may have some benefit in improving survival rate of patients with complicated IE and reducing complications.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a significant cause of illness and death worldwide. Identification of early predictive markers could help optimize patient management. RNA-sequencing was carried out on human fetal aortic valves at gestational weeks 9 , 13 , and 22 and on a case-control study with adult noncalcified and calcified bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves. In dimension reduction and clustering analyses, diseased valves tended to cluster with fetal valves at week 9 rather than normal adult valves, suggesting that part of the disease program might be due to reiterated developmental processes. The analysis of groups of coregulated genes revealed predominant immune-metabolic signatures, including innate and adaptive immune responses involving lymphocyte T-cell metabolic adaptation. Cytokine and chemokine signaling, cell migration, and proliferation were all increased in CAVD, whereas oxidative phosphorylation and protein translation were decreased. Discrete immune-metabolic gene signatures were present at fetal stages and increased in adult controls, suggesting that these processes intensify throughout life and heighten in disease. Cellular stress response and neurodegeneration gene signatures were aberrantly expressed in CAVD, pointing to a mechanistic link between chronic inflammation and biological aging. Comparison of the valve RNA-sequencing data set with a case-control study of whole blood transcriptomes from asymptomatic individuals with early aortic valve calcification identified a highly predictive gene signature of CAVD and of moderate aortic valve calcification in overtly healthy individuals. These data deepen and broaden our understanding of the molecular basis of CAVD and identify a peripheral blood gene signature for the early detection of aortic valve calcification.

Invasive endocarditis of the aortic and mitral valves with involvement of the intervalvular fibrosa is a particular surgical challenge. We describe a technique for aortic and mitral valve replacement with concomitant reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrosa, utilizing a folded bovine pericardial patch (Commando operation).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for valvular heart disease (VHD). Mitral annular and aortic valve calcifications are highly prevalent in CKD patients and commonly lead to valvular stenosis and regurgitation, as well as complications including conduction system abnormalities and endocarditis. VHD, especially mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis, is associated with significantly reduced survival among CKD patients. Knowledge related to VHD in the general population is not always applicable to CKD patients because the pathophysiology may be different, and CKD patients have a high prevalence of comorbid conditions and elevated risk for periprocedural complications and mortality. This Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) review of CKD and VHD seeks to improve understanding of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of VHD in CKD by summarizing knowledge gaps, areas of controversy, and priorities for research., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF) is a fibrous, avascular region between the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve and noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve. This makes MAIVF vulnerable to injury and infection; thus pseudoaneurysm may develop. The pseudoaneurysm can cause compression to coronary arteries which causes angina or pulmonary artery resulting in pulmonary hypertension. We presented the pseudoaneurysm of MAIVF causing compression of superior vena cava and right atrium which was visualized by two- and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare form of vasculitis characterised by atopic manifestations, inflammation of small-sized to medium-sized arteries and veins, hypereosinophilia and tissue infiltration with eosinophils. Cardiac complications occur most commonly in the absence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Cardiac complications include coronary arteritis (rare), pericarditis, myocarditis, endocardial fibrosis (Loeffler's endocarditis) and intracavitary thrombosis of the left or right ventricle. This is the first reported case of large non-infectious valvular vegetations associated with EGPA., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Significant differences are mentioned in the progress of calcification between aortic and mitral valve. Evidence of inflammation in calcific aortic and mitral valve disease suggests that pathways of Toll Like Receptors (TLR) and Interleukin (IL)-37 expression may contribute to this process. We sought to investigate the role of TLR-mediated inflammatory response and IL-37 pathway expression on aortic and mitral valve calcification., Material and Methods: One-hundred twenty stenotic valve cusps/leaflets (60 aortic, 60 mitral) were excised during surgery and were collected for histological, immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis at our department. After total RNA isolation from a second part of valve cusps/leaflets, cDNA synthesis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) protocols were performed and relative mRNA levels of target genes were assessed., Results: By histological analysis, the anti-inflammatory IL-37 levels were increased in mitral valve leaflets (MVL) compared to aortic valve cusps (AVCu) while all other biomarkers, including TLR, presented a reverse pattern with decreased levels as compared to AVCu. In terms of calcification biomarkers, only osteopontin differed between AVCu and MVL. mRNA analysis confirmed increased expression of IL-37 and decreased levels of TLR in MVL compared to AVCu., Conclusions: Stenotic cusps of aortic valves express lower IL-37 and increased TLRs levels than stenotic mitral valve leaflets, suggesting a differential pro-calcification and pro-inflammatory profile between the two valves. This may explain the higher incidence of calcification of AVCu than MVL and offer therapeutic considerations., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cardiac valve calcification (CVC) in maintenance hemodialysis patients is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, whether de novo CVC in incident hemodialysis patients predicts future cardiovascular events is unknown., Methods: This study included 174 patients newly receiving hemodialysis without CVC as reflected by echocardiography between January 2005 and December 2014. De novo CVC was determined with echocardiography once every 6 months until December 2016., Results: The median follow-up was 66 months (range, 19-141). De novo CVC developed in 80 out of 174 (45.98%) subjects: 58 developed aortic valve calcification (AVC) alone, 42 developed mitral valve calcification (MVC) alone, and 20 developed both AVC and MVC. The median time from baseline to de novo CVC was 46 months (range, 3-120) for AVC and 50 months (range, 13-127) for MVC. Patients who developed CVC had a higher major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) rate than those who did not (AVC: 30/58 [51.72%] vs. 23/116 [19.83%]; MVC: 25/42 [59.52%] vs. 28/132 [21.21%]). Multivariate time-dependent Cox regression showed an association between MACE with both de novo AVC and MVC (AVC: hazard ratio [HR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-6.63; MVC: HR 5.95, 95% CI 2.90-12.20)., Conclusions: De novo CVC is an independent risk factor for MACE in hemodialysis patients, and regular CVC screening among hemodialysis patients without preexisting CVC may be helpful to identify patients at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

A bicuspid aortic valve is not only a common congenital heart defect but also an enigmatic condition that can cause a large spectrum of diseases, such as aortic valve stenosis and severe heart failure in newborns whereas aortic dissection in adults. On the contrary, a bicuspid aortic valve can also occur with normal function throughout life and never need treatment. Numerous genetic mechanisms are involved in the abnormal cellular functions that may cause abnormal development of the aortic valve during early foetal life. As several chromosomal disorders are also associated with a bicuspid valve, there does not appear to be an apparent common trigger to the abnormal development of the aortic valve. The clinical care of the bicuspid aortic valve patient has been changed by a significant body of evidence that has improved the understanding of the natural history of the disease, including when to best intervene with valve replacement and when to provide prophylactic aortic root surgery. Moreover, as bicuspid valve disease is also part of various syndromes, we can identify high-risk patients in whom a bicuspid valve is much more unfavourable than in the normal population. This review provides an overview of all aspects of the bicuspid aortic valve condition and gives an updated perspective on issues from pathophysiology to clinical care of bicuspid aortic valve disease and associated aortic disease in asymptomatic, symptomatic, and pregnant patients, as well as our viewpoint on population screening.

The left ventricular (LV) remodeling process associated with significant valvular heart disease (VHD) is characterized by an increase of myocardial interstitial space with deposition of collagen and loss of myofibers. These changes occur before LV systolic function deteriorates or the patient develops symptoms. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) permits assessment of reactive fibrosis, with the use of T1 mapping techniques, and replacement fibrosis, with the use of late gadolinium contrast enhancement. In addition, functional consequences of these structural changes can be evaluated with myocardial tagging and feature tracking CMR, which assess the active deformation (strain) of the LV myocardium. Several studies have demonstrated that CMR techniques may be more sensitive than the conventional measures (LV ejection fraction or LV dimensions) to detect these structural and functional changes in patients with severe left-sided VHD and have shown that myocardial fibrosis may not be reversible after valve surgery. More important, the presence of myocardial fibrosis has been associated with lesser improvement in clinical symptoms and recovery of LV systolic function. Whether assessment of myocardial fibrosis may better select the patients with severe left-sided VHD who may benefit from surgery in terms of LV function and clinical symptoms improvement needs to be demonstrated in prospective studies. The present review article summarizes the current status of CMR techniques to assess myocardial fibrosis and appraises the current evidence on the use of these techniques for risk stratification of patients with severe aortic stenosis or regurgitation and mitral regurgitation.

Objective: To describe the CT and MR features of pseudoaneurysms of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (PMAIVF)., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 9 patients with a diagnosis of PMAIVF who had CT or MRI within 3months of echocardiography. Echocardiography images were reviewed by a cardiologist and CT and MRI images were reviewed by two experienced cardiothoracic radiologists., Results: Recognizable imaging features of PMAIVFs were communication with the Left ventricular outflow tract, location between the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve and the aortic valve, systolic expansion and diastolic collapse., Conclusion: CT and MRI show characteristic appearances of PMAIVFs and are complementary to echocardiography., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Intraleaflet hemorrhage (ILH) has been reported to occur in calcified degenerated aortic valves. At present, no such information is available for mitral valves or for other types of valvular disease. We examined the prevalence, age, and potential source of ILH in a consecutive series of surgically removed aortic and mitral valves, and related the findings to specific types of heart valve pathology., Methods: A total of 105 aortic (n=85) and mitral (n=20) valves were retrieved from 100 symptomatic patients. Pathological diagnosis was made on photographic images and histology. Presence, extent, and age of ILH; its possible association with calcification; microvessels; and microvascular leakage were assessed with conventional and immunohistochemical staining methods and related to the type of underlying valvular disease., Results: Pathological diagnosis revealed degenerative aortic valve disease (n=70), postinflammatory disease (n=16), endocarditis (n=12), myxoid degenerative mitral valve disease (n=6), and one normal valve. ILH was found in 86% of aortic and 75% of mitral valves. Microvessels were present in 91% of all valves. Microvascular leakage was noted in 70% of aortic and 84% of mitral valves; in both groups, colocalization with ILH was found in 48%. Most aortic valves (91%) contained calcium deposits, of which 54% showed colocalization with ILH. In 66% of valves with ILH, a combination of recent hemorrhage and iron deposits was seen, indicating an ongoing process of episodic hemorrhages., Conclusion: The prevalence of ILH is very high in resected heart valves. Both aortic and mitral valves showed an association of ILH with microvessels, microvascular leakage, and calcifications. We speculate that repetitive microvascular-leakage-related ILH may contribute to valve dysfunction on the (very) long term., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 36-year-old pregnant woman with a history of rheumatic heart disease and prior aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair presented to an outside hospital with severe aortic stenosis. The patient had a cardiac arrest upon labor induction and underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which dislodged two days later. Five months later, the patient underwent removal of the dislodged TAVR and a Ross procedure at the authors' institution. The patient was stable upon discharge, with minimal aortic and pulmonary regurgitation. To the authors' knowledge, the present report is the first of the Ross procedure being used under such circumstances. It is suggested that caution be taken when using bioprosthetic and transcatheter aortic valves in young patients, and primary use of the Ross procedure is encouraged at experienced centers.

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF-P) is one of the rare complications of endocarditis or, more rarely, of surgical trauma. This condition is characterized by a pseudoaneurysm in the intra-annular area between the mitral valve and the aortic valve communicating with the outflow tract of the left ventricle, between the coronary or noncoronary left aortic valve and the front flap of the mitral valve. Nowadays, surgery is recommended to avoid further growth and complications. We hereby describe the case of a patient with MAIVF-P as a consequence of a surgical trauma and early appearance of MAIVF-P. During the long echocardiographic and clinical follow-up, the patients showed stable clinical and hemodynamic conditions despite the increase in size of the MAIVF-P. A conservative treatment based on a medical follow-up can represent an alternative in patients refusing surgery, in high-risk surgical patients as well as in patients showing a stable echocardiographic and clinical picture regardless of the MAIVF-P size.

Objective:: To present the results of a new experimental device developed to facilitate the transapical access in endovascular treatment of structural heart diseases. It aims to reduce the risk of bleeding and complications in this type of access and demonstrate the device as a safe, fast and effective alternative., Methods:: CorPoint is composed of three parts: introducer, base with coiled spring, and closing capsule. By rotating movements, the spring is introduced into the myocardium and progressively approaches the base to the surface of the heart. Guidewires and catheters are inserted through the hollow central part and, at the end of the procedure, the capsule is screwed over the base, therefore stopping any bleeding., Results:: The device was implanted in 15 pigs, weighing 60 kg each, through an anterolateral thoracotomy, while catheters were introduced and guided by fluoroscopy. All animals had minimal bleeding; introducers with diameter up to 22 Fr were used and various catheters and guidewires were easily handled. After finishing the procedure, the closing capsule was attached and no bleeding was observed at the site., Conclusion:: This new device has proved effective, fast and secure for the transapical access. This shows great potential for use, especially by ensuring an easier and direct access to the mitral and aortic valves; the shortest distance to be traveled by catheters; access to the ascending and descending aorta; decreased bleeding complications; decreased surgical time; and the possibility of allowing the technique to evolve and become totally percutaneous.

Background: The aims of this study were to investigate the evolution of the transprosthetic pressure gradient and effective orifice area (EOA) during dynamic bicycle exercise in bileaflet mechanical heart valves and to explore the relationship with exercise capacity., Methods: Patients with bileaflet aortic valve replacement (n = 23) and mitral valve replacement (MVR; n = 16) prospectively underwent symptom-limited supine bicycle exercise testing with Doppler echocardiography and respiratory gas analysis. Transprosthetic flow rate, peak and mean transprosthetic gradient, EOA, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure were assessed at different stages of exercise., Results: EOA at rest, midexercise, and peak exercise was 1.66 ± 0.23, 1.56 ± 0.30, and 1.61 ± 0.28 cm 2 , respectively (P = .004), in aortic valve replacement patients and 1.40 ± 0.21, 1.46 ± 0.27, and 1.48 ± 0.25 cm 2 , respectively (P = .160), in MVR patients. During exercise, the mean transprosthetic gradient and the square of transprosthetic flow rate were strongly correlated (r = 0.65 [P < .001] and r = 0.84 [P < .001] for aortic valve replacement and MVR, respectively), conforming to fundamental hydraulic principles for fixed orifices. Indexed EOA at rest was correlated with exercise capacity in MVR patients only (Spearman ρ = 0.68, P = .004). In the latter group, systolic pulmonary artery pressures during exercise were strongly correlated with the peak transmitral gradient (ρ = 0.72, P < .001)., Conclusions: In bileaflet mechanical valve prostheses, there is no clinically relevant increase in EOA during dynamic exercise. Transprosthetic gradients during exercise closely adhere to the fundamental pressure-flow relationship. Indexed EOA at rest is a strong predictor of exercise capacity in MVR patients. This should be taken into account in therapeutic decision making and prosthesis selection in young and dynamic patients., (Copyright © 2016 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: In this review, we will discuss aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, and mitral stenosis. We will review the etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment of aortic and mitral valve disease. Age and lesion specific treatments are outlined based on the severity of valve disease with an aim at long-term preservation of left ventricular function., Data Source: MEDLINE and PubMed., Conclusions: Mitral and aortic valve disease leads to unique hemodynamic burdens that can impact left ventricular function, quality of life, and longevity. The primary challenge in the management of mitral and aortic valve disease is to apply appropriate medical management and identify that point in time at which the surgery is necessary. Although guidelines have been established for the management of aortic and mitral valve disease in adults, the challenges of early presentation, maintenance of growth potential, and apparent increased tolerance of hemodynamic burden in children makes decision making challenging.

Possibilities of application of bioprostheses for correction of acquired heart failures in condition of artificial blood circulation were studied. Examination and treatment of 235 patients, suffering failures of mitral valve (MV) and aortal valve (AV), was performed. In 89 patients a MV prosthesis was made, and in 146 — the AV prosthesis. In 94 patients bioprostheses were applied, and in 141 — mechanical prosthesis was implanted. Indices of the left heart portions morphometry and of survival, stability of good postop* erative results in remote period have witnessed high efficacy of the bioprostheses application and expediency of their application in the aged patients.

While abnormal hemodynamic forces alter fetal myocardial growth, little is known about whether such insults affect fetal cardiac valve development. We hypothesized that chronically elevated systolic load would detrimentally alter fetal valve growth. Chronically instrumented fetal sheep received either a continuous infusion of adult sheep plasma to increase fetal blood pressure, or a lactated Ringer's infusion as a volume control beginning on day 126 ± 4 of gestation. After 8 days, mean arterial pressure was higher in the plasma infusion group (63.0 mmHg vs. 41.8 mmHg, P < 0.05). Mitral annular septal-lateral diameter (11.9 mm vs. 9.1 mm, P < 0.05), anterior leaflet length (7.7 mm vs. 6.4 mm, P < 0.05), and posterior leaflet length (P2; 4.0 mm vs. 3.0 mm, P < 0.05) were greater in the elevated load group. mRNA levels of Notch-1, TGF-β2, Wnt-2b, BMP-1, and versican were suppressed in aortic and mitral valve leaflets; elastin and α1 type I collagen mRNA levels were suppressed in the aortic valves only. We conclude that sustained elevated arterial pressure load on the fetal heart valve leads to anatomic remodeling and, surprisingly, suppression of signaling and extracellular matrix genes that are important to valve development. These novel findings have important implications on the developmental origins of valve disease and may have long-term consequences on valve function and durability.

Background: Cardiac valve calcification is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the one of major causes for increased cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients. We hypothesized that cardiac valve calcification is associated with the presence and the severity of CAD in pre-dialysis CKD patients., Methods: This study included 1166 patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography for assessment of cardiac valve calcification and coronary angiography for assessment of CAD. The patients were divided into two groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): pre-dialysis CKD group (n = 215, eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and non-CKD group (n = 951, eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2))., Results: In the pre-dialysis CKD group, subjects with aortic valve calcification (AVC), mitral valve calcification (MVC), and at least one valve calcification had more severe CAD compared with those without AVC, MVC, and any valve calcification. Multivariate analysis showed that pre-dialysis CKD patients who had AVC, MVC, and at least one valve calcification were 3.02 times (P = 0.033), 3.73 times (P = 0.029), and 3.31 times (P = 0.012) more likely to have CAD compared with those without AVC, MVC, and any valve calcification, respectively. However, in the non-CKD group, there was no association between cardiac valve calcification and the severity/presence of CAD., Conclusions: Cardiac valve calcification is associated with the presence and severity of CAD in pre-dialysis CKD. Assessment of cardiac valve calcification by means of transthoracic echocardiography could be a valuable non-invasive method for CAD risk stratification in pre-dialysis CKD patients.

The mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa is an avascular fibrous structure between the anterior mitral leaflet and the aortic annulus. Pseudoaneurysm formation of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa is a rare but known entity most commonly caused by infective endocarditis or valve surgery. We present a 29-year-old patient with a mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm of no evident cause who was successfully managed surgically., (Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Operations on the open heart, of them in 62 (32.9%)--the valves prosthesis, were conducted on the base of Clinical Treatment-Diagnosis Centre "Simedgroup" of Ivano-Frankivskiy National Medical University in 2012 - 2015 yrs in 188 patients. Hemodynamically significant failures of a mitral valve and/or the aortal valve were considered as indications for the operative treatment conduction. Combined surgical treatment--the valve prosthesis and coronary shunting--were conducted in coincident ischemic heart disease. More durable rehabilitation is needed for elderly and senile patients.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcome of fibrinolytic treatment of prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) with 'streptokinase' as a first line treatment for these cases., Methods: The study group was 20 consecutive patients (10 females) diagnosed with PVT. The protocol for streptokinase administration was either accelerated (intravenous infusion of 0.5 million IU over 30 minutes followed by 0.15 million IU/h) or conventional (intravenous infusion of 0.25 million IU over 30 minutes followed by 0.15 million IU/h). Success of fibrinolytic therapy was defined as complete restoration of valve function in the presence or absence of complications., Results: Eighteen patients (90%) had mitral PVT and two (10%) had aortic PVT. Thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase was successful in all but one case, with a total mortality of four cases (20%). In PVT episodes, before streptokinase therapy, the prosthetic valve areas (in all cases, mitral and aortic positions) were 0.82 ± 0.21, 0.83 ± 0.21, and 0.73 ± 0.18 cm²; and the peak and mean transvalvular gradients were 38.7 ± 16.7 and 25.4 ± 8.7, 34.1 ± 8.8 and 23.2 ± 5.4, and 80.0 ± 14.1 and 45.0 ± 7.1 mmHg, respectively. After streptokinase therapy, the prosthetic valve area and peak and mean transvalvular gradients improved significantly (for all cases, mitral and aortic positions: valve area 2.17 ± 0.58, 2.21 ± 0.61, and 1.85 ± 0.07 cm², peak gradient 18.7 ± 11.0, 16.4 ± 7.7, and 39.0 ± 18.4, and mean gradient 9.6 ± 7.1, 8.2 ± 5.3, and 22.0 ± 11.3 mmHg, respectively; paired t-test, P<0.001 for pre- versus post-streptokinase infusion for all variables)., Conclusion: Fibrinolytic therapy using streptokinase was an effective therapeutic strategy for the management of PVT and is a reasonable alternative to surgery.

Results of long-term prospective follow-up of patients with early stages of mitral and aortic valvulitis and primary chronic septic endocarditic are presented. Clinical diagnostics of the diseases is described and the key role is assigned to pathognomic (absolute) clinical symptoms. The tendency to progressive fibrosis of endocardial structures with subsequent gradual development of valve dysfunction and stenosis (especially for the mitral valve) is revealed. It is shown that early treatment increases the effective valve area and promotes reversion of mitral stenosis. The possibility of early diagnostics of primary chronic septic endocarditis in combination with adequate etiopathogenetic therapy provide the basis for prevention of acquired valvular disease.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is usually asymptomatic, but can be associated with complications such as infective endocarditis, mitral regurgitation, thromboembolism and sudden cardiac death. It has been very rarely reported to occur in association with other valvular involvement. A 55-year-old male patient was brought dead and at autopsy the mitral valve orifice was stenotic and the leaflets were enlarged, myxoid and bulging suggestive of MVP and chordae tendinae were thickened, stretched and elongated. Similar changes were seen in the tricuspid valve. The pulmonary and aortic valves also showed myxomatous degeneration of their cusps. Myxomatous degeneration is the most common cause of MVP and it can be associated with involvement of the other valves. Concomitant involvement of the aortic valve has been reported, however it is very rare and simultaneous involvement of the pulmonary valve has not been reported in the literature so far. We report a case of MVP associated with myxomatous degeneration of the tricuspid, pulmonary and aortic valves.

This retrospective study attempted to establish the prevalence of multiple-valve involvement in Marfan syndrome and to compare echocardiographic with histopathologic findings in Marfan patients undergoing valvular or aortic surgery. We reviewed echocardiograms of 73 Marfan patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery from January 2004 through October 2009. Tissue histology was available for comparison in 29 patients. Among the 73 patients, 66 underwent aortic valve replacement or the Bentall procedure. Histologic findings were available in 29 patients, all of whom had myxomatous degeneration. Of 63 patients with moderate or severe aortic regurgitation as determined by echocardiography, 4 had thickened aortic valves. The echocardiographic findings in 18 patients with mitral involvement included mitral prolapse in 15. Of 11 patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation as determined by echocardiography, 4 underwent mitral valve repair and 7 mitral valve replacement. Histologic findings among mitral valve replacement patients showed thickened valve tissue and myxomatous degeneration. Tricuspid involvement was seen echocardiographically in 8 patients, all of whom had tricuspid prolapse. Two patients had severe tricuspid regurgitation, and both underwent repair. Both mitral and tricuspid involvement were seen echocardiographically in 7 patients. Among the 73 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for Marfan syndrome, 66 had moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, although their valves manifested few histologic changes. Eighteen patients had mitral involvement (moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, prolapse, or both), and 8 had tricuspid involvement. Mitral valves were most frequently found to have histologic changes, but the tricuspid valve was invariably involved.

A pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa is a rare but potentially fatal complication seen primarily in the context of infective endocarditis. In this study, we discuss a case of infective endocarditis that was complicated by the rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa. We review the salient echocardiographic findings of this clinical condition.

This study assesses whether aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and mitral annulus calcification (MAC) are associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis, independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 1065 patients underwent both echocardiography and carotid artery ultrasound scanning. AVS and MAC were defined as focal areas of increased echogenicity and thickening of the aortic leaflets or mitral valve annulus. Carotid artery atherosclerosis was defined as presence/absence of any atherosclerotic plaque or presence/absence of plaque >50 %. Of 1065 patients (65 ± 9 years; 38 % female) who comprised the study population, 642 (60 %) had at least one atherosclerotic plaque. AVS, but not mitral valve sclerosis; was associated with the presence of carotid atherosclerosis (odds ratio (OR) 1.9, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.9; P = 0.005) and the degree of carotid atherosclerosis (OR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.2-3.9; P = 0.01) in a multivariate model including age, gender, previous ischemic heart disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes, family cardiovascular history, left ventricular size, mass, and ejection fraction, and left atrial size. AVS is a significant predictor of carotid atherosclerosis, independently of other cardiovascular clinical and echocardiographic risk factors.

Objective: We compared the histologic findings in explanted CorMatrix (9 patients) and autologous pericardium (9 patients) used for valvuloplasty of the aortic (7 patients) and/or mitral (11 patients) valve in patients with congenital heart defects., Methods: We used standard tissue stains and immunohistochemistry to identify the inflammatory cell type., Results: CorMatrix was associated with an intense inflammatory response in the surrounding native tissue, extending into CorMatrix in 8 of 9 cases, continuing to the longest follow-up point (9 months). The typical response included macrophages and giant cells in contact with the material, surrounded by lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells, and eosinophils. The thickness of the residual CorMatrix material was 280 to 300 μm, similar to the nominal thickness at implantation and unrelated to the implantation duration. Only at the longest follow-up interval was any significant resorption of CorMatrix material evident. A neointima had formed on the surface of CorMatrix, increasing in thickness with the period in situ. Mild cellular infiltration of CorMatrix was noted in all cases; however, in no case, did it appear that CorMatrix was being remodeled into tissue resembling a 3-layered native valve. In contrast, a near absence of any inflammatory reaction was seen and no eosinophilia associated with autologous pericardium was present, irrespective of the duration in situ. Furthermore, we observed more tissue infiltration, remodeling, vascularization, and neointima formation with autologous pericardium., Conclusions: Although CorMatrix used for valve repair induced an intense inflammatory response, little or no remodeling to form tissue resembling a 3-layered native valve was seen at ≤9 months after implantation., (Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegener's) is a necrotizing systemic vasculitis of the small-sized blood vessels, affecting kidneys, lungs, upper respiratory tract and skin. Cardiac valvular involvement is an uncommon manifestation of GPA. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with arthritis and lung nodules due to GPA without antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) at time of diagnosis. Remission was obtained with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroid. Azathioprine was then prescribed for 2years. Four years later, she developed severe inflammatory aortic and mitral valvular involvement characterized by GPA typical histopathological valvular lesions. Search for ANCA was positive at this time (anti-myeloperoxidase). Cardiac valvular involvement is a rare and potentially fatal complication of GPA and may misleadingly suggest infectious endocarditis. A review of literature revealed few cases of histologically well-documented cardiac valvular involvement in GPA. Pathologists should be aware of valvular heart diseases in GPA, which usually comprise valvular necrotic lesions without any microbial agents., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Lambl's excrescences (valvular strands) have been associated with an increased embolic risk. In previous studies, valvular strands have mostly been detected by transoesophageal echo (TEE). The current high-resolution echo systems allow better detection of valvular strands often even by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We attempted to determine the incidence of valvular strands during routine echo exams, TTE and/or TEE, and their relation to the cardiovascular risk factor, co-morbidities, and outcome., Methods and Results: Over 21 000 echo exams were performed at our hospital during 2008-12 and were searched for reporting of valvular strands. One hundred and fifty such studies were identified and the presence of valvular strands was confirmed. These patients were then evaluated for clinical characteristics, co-morbidities, and outcome, and compared with 150 age- and gender-matched patients without valvular strands. Incidence of valvular strands was maximal at age 61-70 (0.94%), and they were found more commonly in men than in women, 92 vs. 58, P < 0.00001. Valvular strands occurred more often on the aortic than on the mitral valve, 125 vs. 36, respectively, P < 0.00001, were more often associated with thickened or calcified aortic or mitral valve, and occupied the ventricular side of the aortic valve and the atrial side of the mitral valve, P < 0.00001. Embolic events occurred in 40 of the 150 patients with strands (27%). Valvular strands were not associated with increased mortality., Conclusion: Valvular strands (Lambl's excrescences) appear not to affect life expectancy, but are often associated with embolic/cerebrovascular events, are more common in older patients, in men than in women, and are more commonly located on the aortic than on the mitral valve., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2014. For permissions please email: Journals.permissions@oup.com.)