Age-related enhanced degeneration of bioprosthetic valves due to leaflet calcification, tissue crosslinking, and structural changes.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs), made from glutaraldehyde-fixed heterograft materials, are subject to more rapid structural valve degeneration (SVD) in paediatric and young adult patients. Differences in blood biochemistries and propensity for disease accelerate SVD in these patients, which results in multiple re-operations with compounding risks. The goal of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of BHV biomaterial degeneration and present models for studying SVD in young patients and juvenile animal models.

Methods and results

We studied SVD in clinical BHV explants from paediatric and young adult patients, juvenile sheep implantation model, rat subcutaneous implants, and an ex vivo serum incubation model. BHV biomaterials were analysed for calcification, colla

SUBMITTER: Xue Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10022861 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature