Ex Vivo Quantification of Calcification Stiffness in Aortic Stenosis: Biomechanical Data from Resected Human Valves.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterized by progressive calcification of the aortic valve. While imaging can assess the extent and localization of calcification, intraoperative findings suggest substantial variability in mechanical stiffness. Quantitative biomechanical evaluation is needed to inform optimized treatment strategies. We aimed to quantify the mechanical stiffness of calcified nodules in human AS.

Methods

We performed ex vivo compression testing on 129 calcified nodules resected from 46 patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for severe AS. Stress-strain relationships were measured to characterize the mechanical behavior of the nodules, and two stiffness parameters-compression strength (CS) and compression energy (CE)-were defined. These parame

SUBMITTER: Shirakawa T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12685988 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature