First quantification of alpha-Gal epitope in current glutaraldehyde-fixed heart valve bioprosthesis (by Naso et al.).

The authors explore a study which addresses the role of major xenogeneic antigen Ga1 and anti-Ga2 antibody in biological heart valves (BHV) durability and degeneration. They note the key finding of the study about the ability of abundant preformed antibody, universally present in patients, to initiate an antibody-mediated inflammatory reaction without the need for an induced antibody response. They believe that anti-Ga1 antibody plays an important role in the degeneration of BHVs.